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This film operates more as an experience, less on the typical Hollywood entertainment scale. It was nice to see that the entire novel made it to the screen and was not watered down.
The film was long and slow, however that was the point of the whole experience. After watching this film, I became aware of an aspect of another recent war film (Saving Private Ryan) that I had not paid much attention to. Many have claimed that “Saving Private Ryan” was an anti-war film, but in that respect “Saving Private Ryan” failed because it’s politics were extremely apparent and Spielberg's skill in that area is still underdeveloped.
“The Thin Red Line” showed aspects of war that would usually wind up on the cutting room floor. The long periods of boredom and the ease with which the good-guys and bad-guys can sometimes reverse roles.
As a movie, I do think at times it was somewhat jumbled.
As a film, it was beautiful, compelling, emotional and spiritual.
The film starts out with two AWOL soldiers, one of them being Private Witt, (Jim Caviezel). Their time of peaceful refuge with the natives is cut short by a patrolling US Navy Cruiser.
The momentum of the film begins to build once aboard ship. John Travolta’s performance was a tad stiff, but he faired well as he set the tone for a series of events to come. The deceitful tactics of the military chain-of-command is brought to our attention with Travolta and Nick Nolte (brilliant performance) discussing the battle plans. Travolta faired well in his brief scene, giving a sense of paranoia and fear. We also observe the subtle ways in which he pressed Nolte's buttons, so as to rile him into pushing his men, at any cost.
The driving power for many viewers is the beautiful photography and the scenes-of-peace that completely coexist in a hellish, world of war. There are other films that have shown the insoluble anguish of being a soldier when the commanders are fools: “Gallipoli”, “She Wore a Yellow Ribbon”, and "A Bridge Too Far" come to mind as films with similar characteristics, but none has done so from a center of such spiritual calm as “The Thin Red Line”.
From the very first shot we hear Hans Zimmer’s touching musical score, as we watch an alligator move into the murky depths of a pond. At this point, Private Witt begins his voice-over, applying an almost philosophical approach to the world about him; telling me, that this is a film where we shall see dreams shattered and innocent ideals stripped away.
Shortly after the opening scene, First Sergeant Edward Welsh (Sean Penn) played with a degree of humanity concealed underneath cynical humor, has an exchange with Private Witt. At this point, we learn what the “The Thin Red Line" is really about. It is the flow of consciousness, while following the trials of Charlie Company during one of the battles at Guadal Canal.
The thoughts of many of the characters in Charlie Company are done in voice-overs and at times through out the film we hear poetic verses. Many of these verses speak about how men can be in the midst of nature; yet feel so out of touch with it and each other.
Just before the films tragic climax, our films protagonist (Private Witt) sets out to have another visit with the peaceful islanders, which he sought refuge with in the films beginning. Only now, they will have nothing to do with him, this moment is only conveyed thru poetic gestures and expressions. At this point, I suddenly become aware that in Private Witt’s attempt to reengage his fellow soldiers and duty (the innate killing of war), he has cut himself off from nature and lost his innocence. Man, being a part of nature, but sometimes at war with himself and his surroundings, is perhaps the one elusive unifying theme of the entire film.
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View this site for a nice collage of ‘images and words’ from the film:
http://myplace.to.be/spaarselect/thiinred.htm
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