Vietnam Week 4: Food Fight

Out in the world of films there are more than a few war films. Perhaps this is because, as a species, we have so many wars. Whatever the reason is, it seems that we can never get tired of one war. The war that, if you weren't there, you can never imagine. Described by more than one solider as a hell on Earth and claimed 58,282 U.S. Solider's lives. The war in Vietnam. Today's film is based on one of the bloodiest battles during the Vietnam war. The plot is based on true events though the characters are fictional and unlike other Vietnam films, today's film searches to tell the truth over entertaining its audience. This is Hamburger Hill.

Hamburger Hill, or Hill 937, in the A Shau Valley of Vietnam is of little strategic advantage for the U.S. Military but it is heavily fortified by the North Vietnamese. The film follows a squad of 14 men as they persevere in a brutal ten day battle to try and claim the hill. There is no real protagonist and an almost anonymous enemy; simply gunshots in the distance. This is no mere attempt at entertaining a wider audience, however. The film is an honest account of the chaos and brutality that was the Vietnam War. As that is the entire plot covered, let us move on. 

What happens when 'got your back' is misunderstood...

The start of several big stars film careers, including Don Cheadle, but only two of which really stand out. The first is Courtney B. Vance as Spc. Abraham 'Doc' Johnson. Doc, as a black man in the 1960s, has had his fair share of abuse and you can see how that translates into his attitude toward the war. There is clearly an anger towards those in a position of power over him and that, because of his race, he won't have that power, but also there is a strong feeling of comradery towards his fellow soldiers. He points out that, on this hill, they are all equal. The second stand out performance comes from Dylan McDermott as Sgt. Adam Frantz. The reason McDermott stands out is simply due to how cool he is throughout the film but, as things turn serious and friends start dying, we see his defences break down and his sanity slip until all that he has left that matters to him is getting up the hill. A wonderfully realistic performance. 

The Karaoke night never pulled out a big crowd.

There is very little to say about the film that the tagline doesn't: 'The most realistic portrayal of the Vietnam War ever filmed . Because it's the only one that's true.' That is exactly what it is. This is a brutal and gripping tale of a single moment in the war. There is no over complications with secondary story lines, there is only the hill. The wonderful contrast between the actual fighting and the downtime between gunfire, combined with a near perfect soundtrack, create an eerily accurate atmosphere. What really makes it stand out from other Vietnam films, however, is the fact it doesn't hold the focus on an individual's death. There is no slow motion, no screaming and crying and hugging it out. It is war and people die. The effects are clear without needing to make it too explicit. 

A good film. A great story. As a film, it lacks the entertainment value that the other Vietnam films have. There is less artistic license used. The men have strict uniforms and they stick to their rules and regulations. Whilst this is a more honest approach to film making, it is less watch-able (perhaps why it comes in as the shortest film this week.)

Best Bit? There is something horribly captivating about the assault in the rain. Watching the men hopelessly slide back down the hill after fighting to get up is heartbreaking but I challenge you to look away.

Irish People

All round good reviews. Some fantastic actors. Irish accents. Tempted to watch the movie already? You should be. Created by the brother of In Bruges' director Martin McDonagh, we have another dark comedy starring Irish men and dead bodies. So let's see how it is. This is The Guard.

Unorthodox police officer, Sergeant Gerry Boyle (Brendan Gleeson), works for The Irish Guard in a Gaelic speaking region of Ireland. One day he finds himself with a chirpy, young new partner as they investigate a recently murdered body. After many inappropriate jokes from Boyle, they go for a drink. Well, Boyle goes for a drink. Later they discover the FBI are around looking to bust a massive cocaine smuggling business. FBI agent Wendell Everett (Don Cheadle), leading the operation in Ireland, informs the local Guard of the situation. They are looking for five men. After some confrontation, Boyle informs Everett that they are only looking for four men; the fifth was the murdered body he was investigating. And thus, Everett and Boyle are thrust into investigating together. After the mysterious disappearance of Boyle's new partner, things start to get more and more interesting. Looks like it's time for a think over a Guinness.

Official report: The victim's life was flipped upside down

Brendan Gleeson, as always, is absolutely fantastic. I haven't laughed at one man so much for a long time. There's something very subtle about Gleeson's performance, despite playing one of the most out going and forward characters around. Underneath all that, there's a visible pain. The pain of his mother being so close to death or the fact that only prostitutes like him, and these things just build Boyle as a character and make him constantly interesting to watch, right until the last moment. Don Cheadle is great as well. Admittedly, he's a lot weaker than Gleeson, but he's the straight man to Boyle's ridiculousness. It's a combo that I could watch again and again. The bad guys are also fantastic, particularly Mark Strong. The 'get things done' criminal amongst evil masterminds, or people that wish they were evil masterminds, is suddenly a lot more engaging to watch than he would be in other circumstances.

Boyle's investigations were getting a little childish.

John Michael McDonagh is a long way off his brother. While his script is hilarious, touching, and dark, he lacks the thing that Martin McDonagh does so well: heart. There's a lack of heart to the movie. Characters develop randomly at points with decisions that are simply never explained. It is so almost there and, with a little more work, John Michael McDonagh will be producing fine work. The setting of country Ireland, however, is shot so beautiful and the soundtrack is so wonderfully chosen. Technically, it is a great film. There's just that layer of heart missing.

Despite that, The Guard is a wonderfully satisfying movie. It finishes well, something that's very hard for a rogue buddy cop sort of film, and keeps you laughing along the way. Definitely worth watching.

Best bit? The bit I laughed at most was the car ride with Boyle and Everett where they discuss Disneyworld and babies. I simply could not stop laughing.

In 2 No Arm.

The title is an anagram... Try and get it :)

This film was undoubtedly less cool than its predecessor but very cool none the less. It also wasn't as good but I think it may just be for that reason. Why wasn't it as cool? Hmmm a fair point.... I don't think it was as fun as the first film. I mean Stark (Downey Jr) was facing inner demons etc.. But then it didn't feel touching either. And the 'big' fight scene at the end is a real disappointment.

Whiplash never looks both ways before crossing the road

But that's the bad out of the way. The acting was suburb. Robert Downey Jr was still brilliantly funny and just seemed to shine with coolness. Sam Rockwell was a brilliant 'villain.' He is officially one of my favourite actors (Check out 'Moon') and he is awesome in this as Stark's business rival. Mickey Rourke is insane as Whiplash or Ivan Vanko, the homemade Iron Man person. With his home made suit that has electric whips that can cut a car in half, he portrays a troubled Russian with pure excellence. Oh bloody hell! I almost forgot Don Cheadle! He stepped into Terrence Howard's shoes like a pro. I forgot he was a different actor. Excellent. Other performances by Samuel L Jackson, Gwyneth Paltrow and Scarlett Johansson are equally cool and not a single decline in quality.

Direction by Jon Favreau is brilliant and so is his little supporting role. It's edited really well and has an awesome AC/DC-full soundtrack. The camera work is a little generic though.

It is still a good film and super cool. A film to watch with friends and a couple of beers/ cans of coke. (I have 14 year olds read this blog you know. Drinking is bad kids.)



Best bit? The race car fight scene... Brilliant. Funny and full of action.