This is a brilliant, sad, emotional and disappointing film. I cried. Alot. But perhaps that because I have a (many) military ties.
First the brilliant. The dialogue, especially with the reporter and the cop at the beginning and with the soldiers in the middle is well written and textured. The plot is not brilliant, but well done. The performances by Derek Luke and the other soliders are brilliant, esp. Luke and the guy who plays "Train." Brilliant.
Now, the sad. Honestly -- and pull my man card if you like -- I've never cried more during a film than I did this film. The close of the third act, while somewhat predictible, is heartwrenching. There is something about how thre actors performance and Mr. Lee's direction moved me. Really moved me. And it's especially prevelent at the end of that third act.
Emotional for the same reasons above. But also, it draws upon a period less than 60 years ago when African-Americans were treated, at least in the US, as less than human, even by the military. Just because thew military was the first to integrate didn't mean it went well. And the Buffalo Soliders weren't integrated. If you have a quarter of an open mind, you sit watching, knowing facts, and saying, "Why in the hell did we do this?" And in many ways, we can still ask ourselves those questions.
Now, disappointing. There are two scenes that needed reworking. The John Leguizamo scene makes no sense other than for its end result. And the ending scene, esp. when Hector asks, "Where am I?" To go from where he was a moment before to that left me with a HUGE "WTFO" feeling. If you saw it, you may know what I'm feeling. Perhaps on the DVD, this will make more sense. Finally, there's the role of the woman in the middle portion of the film. She's nothing more than a catalyst to cause fiction. There's this strange build up to what happens with her. That didn't wash with me, either.
Just some footnotes: the guy who played "Bishop" was also outstanding. John Turturro is razor sharp as the cop in the beginning. The music is wonderful. Spike Lee also proves himself a fantastic director and filmmaker once again.
Finally, a personal note. I'll just say again I have not been more touched by a film as an adult. We all realize that messages touch us all in different ways. 'Miracle at St. Anna' really reached me deep.
First the brilliant. The dialogue, especially with the reporter and the cop at the beginning and with the soldiers in the middle is well written and textured. The plot is not brilliant, but well done. The performances by Derek Luke and the other soliders are brilliant, esp. Luke and the guy who plays "Train." Brilliant.
Now, the sad. Honestly -- and pull my man card if you like -- I've never cried more during a film than I did this film. The close of the third act, while somewhat predictible, is heartwrenching. There is something about how thre actors performance and Mr. Lee's direction moved me. Really moved me. And it's especially prevelent at the end of that third act.
Emotional for the same reasons above. But also, it draws upon a period less than 60 years ago when African-Americans were treated, at least in the US, as less than human, even by the military. Just because thew military was the first to integrate didn't mean it went well. And the Buffalo Soliders weren't integrated. If you have a quarter of an open mind, you sit watching, knowing facts, and saying, "Why in the hell did we do this?" And in many ways, we can still ask ourselves those questions.
Now, disappointing. There are two scenes that needed reworking. The John Leguizamo scene makes no sense other than for its end result. And the ending scene, esp. when Hector asks, "Where am I?" To go from where he was a moment before to that left me with a HUGE "WTFO" feeling. If you saw it, you may know what I'm feeling. Perhaps on the DVD, this will make more sense. Finally, there's the role of the woman in the middle portion of the film. She's nothing more than a catalyst to cause fiction. There's this strange build up to what happens with her. That didn't wash with me, either.
Just some footnotes: the guy who played "Bishop" was also outstanding. John Turturro is razor sharp as the cop in the beginning. The music is wonderful. Spike Lee also proves himself a fantastic director and filmmaker once again.
Finally, a personal note. I'll just say again I have not been more touched by a film as an adult. We all realize that messages touch us all in different ways. 'Miracle at St. Anna' really reached me deep.
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