WWII Films
Terrence Malick's remake of The Thin Red Line was a very disappointing film, as has been very correctly noted in this forum. Pacific vets were looking for a "Saving Private Ryan" set in their theater, but ended up with something that was closer, intellectually, to Apocalypse Now or something equally strange.
Yet, The Thin Red Line's portrayal of the battalion commander, played by Nick Nolte was the highlight of an otherwise muddled film. Nolte's battalion commander character was, in many ways, right on target, with any number of nuances brought to the role by an actor who, when he wants to and his head is clear, is capable of really making the audience forget he's 'acting' and has really 'taken ownership' of the character. After observing any number of real battalion commanders for three decades--in combat and peacetime--(and having been one for a couple of years), I think he nailed it. Of course, I'm not advocating that his character was a 'role model' for battalion commanders in combat, mostly the opposite, but I've certainly seen the type.
Point here being that even a 'bad' film can have its moments.
...and please don't ask my opinion of Sean Penn...
