His frustrations are so well expressed that often times you feel like you could just step in and help him solve his problems. the next Tom Hanks) as Costner's angry, multi-layered, deeply troubled son. Also outstanding (when is he not?) is Elijah Wood (a.k.a. He does get to cut loose in a few fleeting scenes. Giving the younger (and equally talented) stars a chance to shine is a smart move on his part. Kevin Costner is a little stiff at the beginning but I think that's a good thing.
(Peace and love are such rare qualities nowadays.) After all, any vehicle that convincingly gives peace and love a chance deserves a little attention. I would have supported this film to the very end. "The War" is one of the few "kid" movies that takes itself seriously enough to be loved and appreciated by young and old audiences alike. Reviewed by Collins 7 / 10 BEAUTIFUL & SADLY UNDERRATED
Actually, I think it's a bit mild for its PG-13 rating.
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Again, the kids carry the scene with their show of pride and willingness to stand by each other in adversity.Īll in all, it's a good movie and good for older children to watch even though there is some strong language and violence. The part of the school teacher comes off a bit stereotypical but it works okay. Kevin Costner was surprisingly understated as the father and Mare Winningham is very good as the mother. Elijah was especially wonderful with the emotional out bursts he has to produce. The children actors, led by Elijah Wood, do a really good job. It also contrasts the kids' reactions to the father's.Įverything is done well. It deals with several kinds of hatred and its effects on the kids' lives. It touches on the Vietnam War through flashbacks and uses this as a study for the conflicts the children are facing. It tells about poor country life in the early '70's from the view point of pre-teens. It has a lot to say and says it well, leaving the viewer with much to think about. This movie was wrongly overlooked when it came out. Reviewed by callaspadeaspade 9 / 10 It says a lot without actually preaching. No wonder so many problems still exist in the world. "Sometimes all it takes is a split second to do something you regret the whole rest of your life." What a great and appropriate theme for a film that few went to see. Each narrator tells the story of her brother and her father: their growth and what has been learned from and about them. Both also utilize a (female) narrator who "bookends" the story in a quasi-flashback style, as well as plays a pivotal (if not the starring) role in the story. Both de-emphasize the star talent (Gregory Peck/Kevin Costner), who still performs remarkably and effectively in a supporting role. Its structure harkens very closely to that of "To Kill a Mockingbird" (my favorite film). It even contains a couple of "musical" period moments. "The War" combines some of the best elements of "Forrest Gump" and "Fried Green Tomatoes." It captures the nostalgia of its timeframe, the innocence and naivete of youth, the situational humor of the moment, the consequences one's decisions and actions bring, and the tragedy of life. It is a beautifully crafted film from its intricate, multi-layered story to its moving, realistic performances to its homestyle, nostalgic cinematography. Personally, I don't feel that "The War" deserves the press it received (or the lack thereof). The title not only refers to the Vietnam War, which has an appropriate albeit very limited place in the film, but it also refers to the literal war that the children continuously wage with one another and the figurative war that rages within each of them.for identity and purpose. It has been said that Vietnam is America's most unpopular war, but in light of both popular opinion and critical oversight, the namesake film may just inch Vietnam out of that role. Reviewed by Morlock 8 / 10 The war without & the war within.