Casualties Of War Movie
Storyline
TAGLINES
Even in war... murder is murder.
During the Vietnam war, a girl is taken from her village by five American soldiers. Four of the soldiers rape her, but the fifth refuses. The young girl is killed. The fifth soldier is determined that justice will be done. The film is more about the realities of war, rather than this single event.
| Michael J. Fox | PFC. Eriksson |
| Sean Penn | Sgt. Tony Meserve |
| Don Harvey | Cpl. Thomas E. Clark |
| John C. Reilly | PFC. Herbert Hatcher |
| John Leguizamo | PFC. Antonio Diaz |
| Thuy Thu Le | Tran Thi Oanh/Girl on Train |
| Erik King | Cpl. Brown |
| Jack Gwaltney | PFC. Rowan |
| Ving Rhames | Lt. Reilly |
| Dan Martin | Hawthorne |
| Dale Dye | Capt. Hill |
| Steve Larson | Agent #1 |
| John Linton | Agent #2 |
| Vyto Ruginis | Prosecutor |
| Al Shannon | Wilkins |
| Brian De Palma |
6.80 out of 10 (8658 votes)
Visitor Reviews
Land of Confusion
posted on 20 Jul 2009Interesting film set in Vietnam brings up the whole issue of morality in war. Can morality exist in war? Is there such an animal? In such a graphic film depicting death, carnage and rape where does one draw the line? Penn is excellent as usual but Fox probably cast for his mere presence, as a character of virtue may be the real casualty here that diminishes the impact of the director's intentions. This film contains one of Ennio Morricone's best latter scores.
One of the most under-rated films of all time
posted on 16 Jul 2009I have always been mystified as to why this movie has not gotten greater recognition. Maybe because Penn's portrayal of Meserve seems like over-acting. Or maybe because Ericsson seems too clean. In any case, I did a research paper (for a film/literature class) on this movie a bunch of years ago.For those of you wondering how close the film is to the original report in the October 1969 edition of the New Yorker: the answer is "pretty darn close." Even the names used in the film match the "fictional" names used in the magazine article. And, believe it or not, Ving Rhames' speil about his 'hospital experience' was actually reported in the article.Without making this a "spoiler", the main differences are: 1) There was no one named "Brownie". But it is easy to figure out the dramatic reason he was included in the film. 2) There was no "Hatcher". Instead there was a second "Diaz"...apparently they were cousins. 3) Captain Hill was not quite the jerk he is made out to be in the film. He was reluctant to do anything substantial...but he did have an occasion to tear a strip off of the guys in the squad. 4)There was no railway scene and the dramatic act that is presented there actually happened one day later than the film would have you believe.Anyway, I just think that this movie is perfect because it shows so well (at a micro-level) why Vietnam was a war that couldn't be won. You can't win a war (serve the political objective) when you don't have the support of the people. Watching this film, it is easy to be sympathetic (or at least understand) how each group felt...even Meserve. The underlying politics meant nothing to either side (the US soldiers or the South Vietnamese). The result was a total disregard from each side and for each side (and they were supposed to be on the same side). This movie shows that perfectly.
The Most Emotionally Charged War Film Ever
posted on 30 May 2009Admirers of Brian De Palma's "Casualties of War" are in for a real treat when they check out the DVD. If you've only seen the pan-and-scan version, this will blow you away. In addition, Laurent Bouzereau contributes his usual high quality "making-of" and retrospective featurettes. Michael J. Fox's recollections of making the film are fascinating. Plus deleted scenes! With the release of special editions of "Dressed to Kill" and "Carrie" along with the bare bones but still essential "Blow Out", 2001 has been a great year for Brian DePalma discs.
An interesting departure for Michael J Fox
posted on 23 May 2009I saw this on TV late the other night for the first time in uncut form (as far as I know). It was kinda funny at first to see Marty McFly swearing, but the novelty wore off first.This film was emotional and certainly gets a reaction out of me every time I see it, but who wouldn't seeing some innocent girl being dragged away from her family, repeatedly raped, beaten, stabbed and killed?I don't think it was over the top though. It's not really a war movie, it's just set against the backdrop of war... but drives home the point that even when you're at war, simple human rights still apply, even against the "enemy".Michael J. Fox wasn't quite a miscast, but this role was certainly a stretch for him - I think that was the whole point though. I have to say he did a good job in the end. His performance was great despite not being all together plausible.
Fox and war
posted on 30 Apr 2009A wonderful DVD, the beginning was a little droll but the movie picked up considerably in the middle. The language is rough, the graphics can get gory, but altogether it is a heartbreaking film. Vietnam at its worst.
Michael J. Fox played his part,(as always) to the max, and Sean Penn was not far behind for the evil and crazy leader of the band.
Altogether, it's a movie anyone should watch. If not for the truth and final showdown between Fox, and his enemies, but for the wonderful acting and storyline.
Icredible
posted on 31 Mar 2009This movie was amazing. Although it lacked intense special effects throughout the entire movie, it was phenomenal. Fox and Penn create great tension, which is clearly presant throughout the entire film. Fox's portrayal of a scarred and confused solider is amazing. Penn does an equally excellent job creating an evil ora that looms during most all of the movie. The story is incredible, and the cast does a great job keeping the attention of the audience. This film is one of the Vietnam movies that sticks out in my memory...
One of the most disturbing "war movies" ever made.
posted on 31 Mar 2009Unfairly ignored during it's initial release this movie deserves another chance.Unlike most war movies this film concentrates not on battles but the heinous acts of some soldiers as they kidnap a girl rape and abuse her.Michael J. Fox plays the one soldier who tries to stand up and do the right thing.Fox proves he's got what it takes to hold his own in a serious part(even better than Bright Lights Big City)and Sean Penn is riveting as the soldier who takes things too far.I saw this in theaters in 1989 and it left me shaken and surprisingly years later it still hasn't lost it's impact.Director Brian DePalma who usually makes stylish gimmick loaded films does a great job here with the serious subject matter.The haunting score by Ennio Morricone that accompanies the poor girl's ordeal will stay in your mind for a very long time.Tough to watch but extremely worthwhile if you're looking for powerful cinema.
Moving story
posted on 19 Mar 2009"Casualties of War" was directed by Brian de Palma and stars Michael J. Fox, Sean Penn, and a good list of supporting actors.
After their squad gets attacked and some soldiers are killed, the unit is sent out on a long-range patrol, led by Sean Penn. He decides to kidnap a Vietnamese girl to take with them as some "portable R & R" along the way.
The girl is raped by the members of the squad, except Michael J. Fox, who tries unsucessfully to prevent it. Later, the girl is murdered by the same men so that another approaching group of Americans in helicopters will not see her.
Although Fox tells his superior officers about it, no one is enthusiastic about bringing charges against the men. Eventually they see their day in court and some measure of justice is handed out.
The DVD contains a 30-minute "making of" documentary with clips and comments by dePalma and other crew members, an 18-minute interview with clips from Michael J. Fox, 5 deleted scenes (one that includes the girl's scarf gives added meaning to the last scene), and the usual set up options.
One of many Vietnam war movies, "Casualties of War" ranks near the top due to the difficult subject and generally good acting.
Brian De Palma's masterpiece
posted on 22 Feb 2009Casualties of War is very powerful and thought provoking film from very talented film maker, Brian De Palma, the man who has made Scarface (1983), The Untouchables and Carrie among many others. Casualties of War is based on a book that is based on real events in Vietnam war. The names of the characters were replaced for this film, but that doesn't change the fact this is a depiction of what happened in real life. Michael J. Fox plays private Eriksson, one member in five men's league to go to a mission during Vietnam war and find some enemies and destroy their hiding-places etc. Their patrol is led by sergeant Meserve (Sean Penn) who after losing his friend in battle, begins to feel very severe hate towards all the Vietnamese and decides to kidnap a girl during their patrol in order to rape and abuse her with the other men during their journey. Eriksson cannot accept this and what follows is no less challenging and powerful than what happens in Oliver Stone's masterpiece Platoon.Casualties of War is a depiction of morality in general and individual's morality and values. The film is set in war, but all this could have happened anywhere else, and now that this happens in war, it tells about the war itself at the same time. Meserve and his friends (Eriksson excluded, of course) are the incarnations of evil, something so wicked and rotten that has rarely been depicted this powerfully in "mainstream" cinema. His character is equally evil but not as symbolic as Tom Berenger's character in Stone's Platoon. Casualties of War is very disturbing exactly due to its characters' wickedness and how they treat that innocent Vietnamese girl they kidnap. The film becomes almost unbearably intense at one point and I felt genuine feelings of sorrow, anxiety and oppression as it seemed that any attempt to commit something good and justice for that girl fail. The ending of this film is incredibly purifying and relieving, but never too traditional or cliche. An ending this powerful was also in Takeshi Kitano's latest, Brother, which I viewed recently. Casualties of War really makes to think what's right and wrong and things definitely are not just that simple. The scene when Eriksson hits Clark to head with a shovel, is one of the most challenging acts of violence I've ever seen in any film. How can it be accepted? The evil is so strong at that point, it seems that by answering to evil with evil, one may be able to fight it that way. Then we must remember what Nietzsche said that by chasing monster, we must beware not becoming monster ourselves.The narration is totally stunning and the last 15 minutes would not be as intensely powerful without the talent of De Palma and his ability to tell his stories this personally. The viewer definitely doesn't have a clue how this film ends since all seem to be just evil and there absolutely aren't any signs of justice happening. By telling how this film ends and what happens to its main characters, the viewing would be spoilt badly and I hope anyone who's reading this hasn't read any spoiling "reviews" on this film. The conclusion of the film seems to be, that by staying "good" and believing in ones righteous principles and moral, justice happens finally, if not in our world, then there what's next when we leave this place. The ending can also be seen in the girl's point of view as she is now in peace and never has to face the kind of horror and evil she met in man's world. The ending is especially rewarding for those, who kept believing in good throughout the film and never gave power to evil thoughts and wrong tools of finding justice. The strongest element in this film is the screenplay as the characters are so personal and real and, fortunately, not shallow. They are real to life and represent all the traits we all have, active or un-active. Eriksson's character is as powerful as Charlie Sheen's in Platoon and the incarnations of evil are also equally shocking and gripping. Equally brilliant element in this film is Ennio Morricone's extraordinarily beautiful and sensitive music that really gave the scenes an incredible punch and made the whole film as powerful as possible. The music is perhaps close to Once Upon a Time in America's sensitive and sad score, but Casualties' score lacks all the positive and major segments found in America's score. Morricone's music in Casualties is perhaps his saddest score and that is really saying a lot when considered the incredible talent of Ennio Morricone's.This film is among the few that made me cry. I remember having very strong feelings when watching Darren Aronofsky's Requiem for a Dream and Spielberg's Schindler's List (for the first time), and also after and during Casualties of War, I almost and cried since the power of this unique film is so incredible. Michael J. Fox' acting ability is one reason for the effectiveness since he puts his soul into the role and really acts naturally and feels naturally. It would've been horrible, if this film was ruined by bad acting or, even worse, by shallow and bad screenplay. Sean Penn and his friend corporal Clark are also so bad and repellently wicked, it is even worse to notice that their superiors seem to have same kind of thoughts about life and, in this case, about the girl's case. All these things give the feeling that no one cares and all the attempts Erikkson does are in vain. But fortunately that is not the case when this film approaches its end.Casualties of War is challenging, very disturbing, emotional, rewarding and purifying piece of art, and really De Palma's greatest film, in my opinion. This is important and remarkable film and his gangster films and horror masterpiece Carrie are left behind this stunning work, despite Carrie and gangster films of De Palma's are also great in their own way. Rarely have I seen a movie this powerful and thought provoking, and since there are not so many, they which are, become even more important and remarkable and Casualties of War is definitely among those films. 10/10
Thai-Nam
posted on 30 Dec 2008There is a distinct difference between Vietnam movies made in Thailand and those in the Philippines. The Thai ones try to be morality plays or generally don't understand the topic, the Filipino ones are disillusioned and disturbing...certainly more advanced than their counterparts. Sadly, Casualties of War is a Thai-Nam movie and not a Phi-Nam one.Sean Penn does his best General Ripper/Turgidson impression and makes an interesting insane caricature. Michael J. Fox and the rest of the squad are cardboard cut-outs necessary to make DePalma's morality play work. Too bad half the time they are unintelligible in their reactions.The way DePalma fixes the camera as a separate from the narrative, such as in the opening with the platoon moving through the jungle, shows moderate intelligence. When he separates the camera from the narrative--after the kidnapping for example--then thrusts it into the viewer's face by having the cast talk at it, that's brilliant. Too bad the other elements of the film aren't anywhere near as sharp.DePalma is neither an auditory director nor an editing one. Funny, when ads ran for Femme Fatale, he was listed as "master of the erotic thriller."
He'll be better known as the person who reshaped the crime genre with Scarface and the Untouchables. DePalma can't separate moods and pacing from each individual cut, Sam Raimi is already several steps ahead of him. No better example comes to mind than the climax of "Casualties" where DePalma throws every possible angle he can on the screen, but the editing is so cumbersome that the entire scene is ruined. Sound work in his films is always an afterthought.Basic storytelling skills are further decimated by the horrendously unneeded prologue and epilogue with Fox back in America. Did we really need those scenes? Perhaps Brian should've spent more time on the script and understanding the fundamentals of film storytelling before hopping onto this project.Overall, I'll leave it at that. Visual work alone doesn't make a good movie, but this is one of DePalma's more watchable films. Isn't that sad?
(60%)
Compelling Pivotal Subject Matter Out of Context In De Palma's Context
posted on 09 Dec 2008I want to say Scarface, The Untouchables and Casualties of War are Brian De Palma's best films, because they are his most serious in subject matter. But the truth is that his best work is in films like Sisters, Snake Eyes, Femme Fatale, The Black Dahlia. It is one thing to make a hyperstylized erotic thriller, because there doesn't have to be anything sincere about the film. But he brings the same sort of stiffly disassociated acting, point-of-view-shot set pieces, stock characters and melodramatically contrived dialogue to the story of a platoon in the Vietnam War and the rape to which they subjected a village girl. The movie's structure is not so much about the act as about the climate building to it, the dehumanizing authenticity of battle, the way it advocates brute force and rejects those who would try to live by a superior gauge.The pivotal sequence of the kidnapping, the march, captivity and gang rape of the girl is excruciating because it makes it so distinct how ineffectual Michael J. Fox's character's ethical fundamentals are in the face of a weapon cask. The other men either never had any issues about what they are doing, or have lost them in the bastardizing course of combat. They will do just what they want to do, and Fox is basically impotent to stop them. Based on actual events, this film makes it apparent that when a group histrionic of this kind is astir, there maybe is veritably nothing that a "good" person can do to save the day. And its analysis of the actualities of the scenario is what's best about the movie.What is not so good are the scenes before and after the compelling pivotal subject. The movie begins and ends some time after the war, with Fox on a subway, where he sees an Asian woman who reminds him of the victim. The dialogue he has with this woman in the movie's last scene is so bound and stilted and tries so hard to manufacture a buoyant denouement into a grim movie, that it's as if it belongs in another movie.Defiant encounters with two commanding officers, Dale Dye (what a shock...) and Ving Rhames, are persuasive, but then the result appears half-baked and almost annexed. More than most films, mostly on account of the vital element of peer pressure, it relies on the potency of its performances for its impact, particularly on Penn's performance, but no one is a real character; everyone is an over-the-top caricature. Penn, with unmistakable conviction and enthusiasm in spite of the cartoonishness, is the bombastic leader of the bullies; John C. Reilly makes his movie debut here as the eager, dim-witted follower; Don Harvey is the sadistic right-hand enforcer for Penn; John Leguizamo is the quiet, sheepish guy who's not as bad but has no backbone. Although Penn's self-dramatizing comes from his deep sense of integrity to the frugal standards of De Palma's style, it seems that Fox is the only player whose capacity to turn ideas into realities and translate experience into words is not affected by the affectedness. Perhaps he's perfect for a De Palma leading man, as he does away with the frivolous.Objectivity is not De Palma's strong suit, which I don't necessarily see as a flaw: Who's truly objective, really? But maybe the movie would have been more impactful if it had just preserved the account as realistically as possible, devoid of De Palma's idiosyncratic artifice, his perfectionism too private and defensively preoccupied. That much would have included everything necessary that the movie has to show us.
Shattering and unforgettable
posted on 27 Nov 2008When does immorality cross the lines in a war? Naturally, civility and normality fly out the window....after all, war is about killing people. But are there rules to it? Ideals we should follow as we engage upon the enemy? This film answers that question, and the answer is yes.I have a large interest in the Vietnam War, primarily because it is considered by many to be America's darkest hour. Watching a film like this forces me to agree. The story is about a platoon of five men, and how their "fearless" leader (an excellent Sean Penn) kidnapps a Vietmanese girl and taunts his men to beat her and rape her. Only one man stands in the way, who knows that what they are doing is wrong (Michael J. Fox, in probably his greatest role). The kidnapping eventually leads to the murder of the girl, and Fox is determined to bring the men to justice, even though Penn argues that "what happens on the field stays on the field."This is director Brian De Palma's finest hour. Rarely has the Vietnam War been presented as so haunting, showing the effects war has one people.... The U.S. were arguably the good guys in the war, but even the greatest of men have their breaking points. And few films show those breaking points as well as this one. Indeed, this is one of the finest films to come out to ever represent Vietnam for what it was: controversial, tragic....and disturbing.**** out of ****
Unsung, disturbing bit of war hell, based on a true story.
posted on 22 Oct 2008In the wake of "Platoon" and "Full Metal Jacket" (and thanks to its release in the summer during amid less oppressive fare), this Vietnam era drama failed to make a big splash at the box office, but has earned a following over time. Fox plays an idealistic newbie, dropped into the hellhole of the conflict and assigned to a five-man team, which is sent to spot the enemy in advance of a major operation. The team is led by hard-edged, slightly off balance Penn, who is mourning the recent death of one of his pals. The remaining soldiers include violent blowhard Harvey, thickheaded Reilly and meek Leguizamo. Penn, in an unauthorized and startling move, decides to kidnap a young Vietnamese girl (Thu Le) and use her as a sex slave for the men during their trek. Some of the men revel in this plan, but Fox and Leguizamo balk at it. This sets up an enmity between Fox and Penn that affects both of their lives forever. Fox, whom many considered preposterous casting for a film this serious, does a terrific job for the most part. His tireless earnestness only becomes a bit much near the end and there are a few scenes that are perhaps deeper than he can go. However, he handles the bulk of the dramatic aspects well and fits his character nicely. Penn is an arresting presence and offers up a captivating portrayal, though he does go a bit over the top along the way. Similar to the way Sissy Spacek and Piper Laurie did not communicate off the set in director DePalma's "Carrie", the two men didn't socialize behind the scenes on this film. Harvey is appropriately slimy and menacing. Reilly and Leguizamo, in very early roles for them, are quite good at what they are called upon to do. (A special nod must go to the casting director who not only gave these two their tremendous breaks, but also gave future award-winner Rhames a featured role as Penn's superior officer.) DePalma crony Gregg Henry appears unbilled in the court-martial scene of the extended cut. Thu Le, an unknown actress who seemingly never did another Hollywood or other major project, is extraordinarily affecting as the captive. Based on a true story (and followed more closely than is sometimes the case with these things), it's a gut-wrenching, even haunting, experience. The landscape is breathtaking, the cinematography is lush, the music is excellent and the acting is often very strong. Depalma places the viewer into the situation and forces him to experience the events through Fox's eyes (with the sexuality being downplayed somewhat, though never the violence, of course.) If there's a significant problem with the film, it is probably the dénouement, considering the most interesting events take place during the middle section and what follows is either silly (the events in the lavatory) or repetitive (the reporting and investigation scenes.) The ending is even more protracted in the extended cut of the movie. Also, thanks to the heavily dramatic, slow motion, moan-filled climax, edited for maximum impact instead of for stark bleakness, there is very nearly the presence of unintentional humor. These issues aren't fatal, but they do detract moderately from the film's overall success. Still, it's a skillfully produced, emotionally stirring, thought-provoking piece of cinema that deserves to be seen.
One of the most underrated war films of all time
posted on 13 Sep 2008One of the most underrated war films of all time. Originally bombed at the box office, this Vietnam based war film stars Michael J. Fox as Eriksson, a member of an American squadron stationed in the deepest jungles of Southeast Asia. After his friend is killed in war, Sgt. Meserve (played by Sean Penn) wants revenge, so he leads his men to invade the home of a young vietnamese girl (Thuy Thu Lee), and to take her so that the squad can "have a little fun". Throughout the film, the squad (excluding Eriksson) repeatedly gags, ties up, and rapes the innocent girl. When it's Eriksson's turn to take a shot at the girl, he doesn't want to do so. He tries his hardest to comfort the girl, and to make sure she stays alive. Eriksson decides to try to help her escape the hell she is going through, but he can't help her by himself. After the squad kills the girl, Eriksson tries to report the tragedy that he has witnessed, and bring justice to the front line, but his fellow soldiers loathe him for trying to do so. Definitely a must see. De Palma doesn't show us any nudity during the rape scenes, but the film deserves it's R rating.
America at its worst
posted on 21 Jul 2008Contains Spoiler! I would just like to say first off that this is one of the best movies based on the Vietnam War that I have ever seen. When I first saw this movie, It deeply shocked me. I think what interested me the most about this movie is that it was based on a true atrocity that took place during the Vietnam War instead of a fictionalized story which took place in Platoon. In Casualties of War, the story follows Eriksson, played brilliantly by Michael J. Fox, a new and inexperienced recruit just arrived in Vietnam who is confronted with a horrifying situation when his sergeant and the other men in his unit kidnap a young girl from a village and rape her and then murder her. Fox's character is then confronted with the agonizing choice of either doing the right thing and telling the authorities and being called a traitor or doing nothing. And when he does tell his superiors, he is told to forget about what happened and let it slide because this event will cause a major international incident and jeapordize the war effort. Fox does a great job of playing Eriksson, the young soldier who is haunted by this one event. Sean Penn also a brilliant job of playing the sadistic and psychotic Sergeant Tony Meserve! Penn's character starts out normal enough, but as the story unfolds, he transforms into a total and complete psycho! And by the end of the film, you truly HATE his character and wish that he dies! What makes this crime even more horrifying is the way that Meserve justifies it. Because he was stopped by the M.P.'s from visiting the prostitutes in town and that in his mind, she's just a gook. The rest of the supporting cast does a great job: Don Harvey, John C. Reily, John Leguizamo, Ving Rhames, etc. Don Harvey does an especially great job as Corporal Thomas Clark. He gives off a cold and remorseless stare that just chills you to the bone. And the things he says and the way that he acts towards the Vietnames people in the movie shows that he has utterly no sympathy and remorse as to how he treats these people. Total hardcore RACIST!!! I bet his parents probably dropped him on his head one too many times as a child! His is another character that you absolutely loathe in the movie. You just want to to go up to him and rip his spine out!!!DePalma does a great job of filming the scenery in the film. It shows the natural and ancient beauty as well as the devastation and destruction that the war has brought. The film's soundtrack is also very good. It is very haunting and tragic and stays with you even after you're done. The rape scenes are also very brutal and will leave you shocked and disgusted. In the end, I think that this film is a story of morality. It shows that we have to put bounds on our behavior or we run the risk of committing unspeakable acts. The film also does a great job of showing how easy atrocities like this occurred because the Vietnamese were dehumanized, soldiers were taught to obey orders, and how ordinary and normal these acts became. One dialogue that helps to show this is between Eriksson's capatain and Eriksson: You just could't rest, could ya? You had to push it. Go to hell. SIR!!! One of the best lines in the movie in my opinion. I don't think that many Americans like this film because it shows Americans in a negative light, and I think that's why it didn't get as much publicity as it did. I think that this movie does a great job of showing that that the U.S. has a tough time admitting when we are and apologizing. The movie shows that we are indeed a VERY arrogant nation, and we like to think that we are always right. The atrocity that occurs in this movie also draws some similarity with the massacre at My Lai. As with the defendants in this film, the soldiers were hardly punished. And it took a while for the story to come out. I also think that the movie is about redemption. In the beginning, we see Eriksson still haunted by this event, and when he sees a girl on the train who looks just like the dead girl and tries to return her scarf. It is clear that he is trying and hoping for redemption and forgiveness for what is done. And after his conversation with her, the film shows that some of his guilt over this event has passed. All in all, I give it *****!
*** 1/2 out of ****
posted on 18 Jul 2008Brian De Palma's only venture into war movies is a powerful, if somewhat melodramatic story about a squad in Vietnam who kidnaps a Vietnamese villager and rapes her. Michael J. Fox sometimes is a little too much as the clean cut guy fighting against the system, but it still works. Penn delivers a stellar performance as the squad leader he's fighting against. Some beautiful cinematography, with De Palma's usually flashy camerawork. The ending feels a little weak compared to the rest of the story, but all in all this is one of the most haunting films about the Vietnam War - made all the more effective by the fact that it is a true story.
Disturbing war movie packs an emotional wallop
posted on 10 Jul 2008
CASUALTIES OF WAR (1989)
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
[Filmed in Panavision]
DVD soundtracks: Dolby 5.1 / Dolby 2.0 stereo
Theatrical soundtrack: 6-track Dolby Stereo
During a routine field trip at the height of the Vietnam War, a young soldier (Michael J. Fox) rebels against his commanding officer (Sean Penn) and other members of his patrol when they kidnap a defenceless Vietnamese girl (Thuy Thu Le) and subject her to a terrifying physical ordeal.
Unfairly overshadowed by the simultaneous theatrical release of Oliver Stone's pompous (but still impressive) BORN ON THE FOURTH OF JULY (1989), Brian DePalma's CASUALTIES OF WAR recreates a harrowing incident from the Vietnam conflict - first reported in 'New Yorker' magazine in 1969 - in which a group of otherwise decent men succumbed to their own worst impulses and committed a terrible crime. Filmed with typical cinematic bravado by master craftsman DePalma, the movie uses every inch of the scope frame to convey both the duality of the landscape (vast swathes of breathtaking countryside, where sudden death lurks around every corner) and the moral vacuum which stretches the two central characters (Fox and Penn) to breaking point.
Crafted with blistering simplicity by screenwriter David Rabe (himself a Vietnam veteran and author of the acclaimed stageplay 'Streamers'), the soldiers are depicted as brave individuals whose principles have been shattered by their traumatic combat experiences, leaving Fox to essay the role of peacemaker in a world where all the rules have been turned upside down. Thu Le - a model with no prior acting experience - is truly heartbreaking as the soldiers' terrified prisoner, and her ultimate fate is so horrific (arguably the most disturbing set-piece of this director's entire career), many viewers will be too appalled to see the film through to its inevitable conclusion. All in all, this uncompromising gaze into the abyss of human depravity packs a tremendous emotional wallop, and emerges as one of DePalma's strongest films to date.
DVD extras include a number of deleted scenes and a series of recently-filmed interviews with key personnel (including DePalma and Fox), many of which contain major spoilers, so be warned. A trailer is also included.
The Greatest War Film of the Last Decade
posted on 14 Apr 2008Along with Apocalypse Now and Full Metal Jacket, Casualties of War is one of the finest films about the Vietnam war. It should not, however, be viewed in the format available on VHS cassette, which is panned and scanned (at times, half of the image is missing). Like all De Palma films, it ideally should be viewed in a theater on a huge screen with stereo sound in order to achieve its full, emotionally draining, and audio-visually stunning impact. Since that opportunity won't come very soon for most people, wait until it comes out on DVD, at least so that you can get the letterboxed image and digital sound. Fox, Penn, Leguizamo, Reilly and the rest of the cast give memorable, at times haunting performances. Morricone's thoughtful score is exquisitely, operatically dramatic. And De Palma, muting some of his more baroque techniques, neverthless continues to explore his recurrent thematic concerns, pushing them to their logical conclusions in a war genre that is new to him only in environment if not in spirit (most of his films are about violent atrocities perpetrated by men). The film failed at the box office when it was released in theaters, probably because it disturbed audiences who wanted a friendlier vision of Vietnam, in which American soldiers were at least martyrs, if not heroes (such as Platoon, Born on the 4th of July, Coming Home, and the like). Other viewers complained that De Palma made his film too late in the Vietnam cycle, that his film retold a too familiar story. But this criticism is actually one of the film's merits and intentions: the first act travels the conventions of earlier Vietnam films that had become cliches (the Audy Murphy heroics, the wise black grunt, the male bonding of the platoon, and so on), only to explode them (and thus disrupt many of the viewer's expectations and foil their pleasure). Instead, De Palma turns to the horror of the rape in the second act as new ground other films had been too timid to cover. There are scenes in this portion that moved me to tears of horror and pity. While the third and last act is somewhat schematic, it provides the necessary moral weight for what precedes it. And the ending suggests that the nightmare of Vietnam, rather than absolved (a misreading on the part of many critics), has been imported back to San Francisco where images such as palm trees and young Asian women will forever trigger flashbacks of despair. For those who feel De Palma is incapable of such emotion, this film puts that misconception to rest.
War Crimes Movie Worth Seeing Once
posted on 24 Jan 2008Basically this film scores average for being a very half-witted 1 hour war movie, 20 minute crime movie and a 5 minute court room drama instead of being a 1 hour court room movie, 20 minute crime movie and a 5 minute war movie.
The reson why it scores more than two stars is because there is an interesting cast (Fight Club extra appear here, John C. Reilly, John Leguizamo and Ving Rhames) that put up a very good act including Sean Penn who acts everyone else around the block, making Fox look a little out of his depth here... and in many ways he is (the boy from Back to the Future just doesnt work here) but the child-like features of Fox are used to make us feel sad... but in reality does not have to be there considering the nature of the movie (war sex crimes). We simply dont need Fox doing the drama thing with tears in his eyes to tell how to feel about what we are seeing.
To be honest it is worth seeing once, just to comprehend that these things do go on, this did happen and that adult criminal sadists can work for the military also. Here the pack mentality of war crimes is on show for the most of it but it would have been a much better court room drama told flashback style.
In short - misdirection of a worthy topic.
Excellent script and acting add up to a Must-See War Classic!
posted on 24 Aug 2009CASUALTIES OF WAR (4 outta 5 stars) Excellent character drama that takes place during the Vietnam war. Michael J Fox plays the conscientious newbie who is placed under the command of the slightly psycho Sgt. Meserve (Sean Penn). After he and his men are denied an R and R trip into town Meserve decides that on their next mission he and his squad will kidnap a Vietnamese girl (on the pretext that she is a Viet Cong spy) and have their way with her. Michael J wants no part of this... but the sergeant is ordering him to take his turn. And how are the other men in the squad going to react to someone who is not a team player? ("You could get killed real easy. Don't you know that? Somebody stumbles. They don't *mean* to shoot you. They're sorrrrrry.") Great script... great acting... great direction... and a score by Ennio Morricone... what more could anyone want in a war movie?