Clint Eastwood's adaptation of James Bradleys bestseller introduces us to the soldiers who hoisted the flag on Iwo Jima. The U.S. is tiring of the war and the military is running out of money when Joe Rosenthal snaps the immortal picture of the Marines raising the flag. Although the battle for Iwo Jima is far from over, this picture inspires hope among the American people. The military's media machine gets cranking and brings 3 of the soldiers who hoisted the flag (the other 3 died on Iwo Jima) back home to inspire (beg) people to buy war bonds. Punctuated with short, intense battle scenes (I don't think I understood the difference between graphic violence and gore until I watched this) this movie is primarily about the media machine, how it chews up and uses those touted as heroes/celebrities. What is heroism is a secondary theme. Ryan Phillippe, while not the best actor in the world, can perform well within a narrow range, as a soldier for instance. (Similar to Keanu Reeves, great in the Matrix and Speed, awful in Dangerous Liaisons, Dracula and Much Ado about Nothing.) This movie is like garlic mashed potatoes with a cube steak. The steak is filling, tender, but made up of tough meat and not overly sophisticated. Pair this with some good hearty mashed potatoes, raised a level (kicked up a notch if I were an Emeril fan) by a bit of garlic and maybe a few red pepper flakes for an added surprise and intensity. These aren't boring mashed potatoes made with milk, but made with butter and cream cheese, influenced by the garlic until it becomes a creamy, delicious meal, with an adequate cube steak to go along with it. 7/10 http://blog.myspace.com/locoformovies
Review of Flags of Our Fathers
