The Great Raid (2005)
Believe it or not boys and girls.
Once, it was actually possible to be proud to be an
American.
I've been really depressed lately
and although I know much of it is unrelated, a big
chunk of my anger, frustration, hopelessness and feelings
of listlessness have come from living in a country
that propagates war upon other countries - in the
past few decades - Middle Eastern countries - in efforts
that have absolutely nothing to do with the spreading
of democracy or the liberation of subjugated peoples.
The abject hopelessness and entropy
that comes from living in America at wartime when
we are not fighting for a righteous cause is suffocating.
At least, in the 60's, or so it would seem, young
people and liberal people stood up and revolted and
protested the horrors their country was inflecting
on other people. The apathy in America right now which
comes from living under the hypocritical rule of a
supposedly Christian leader who is in fact a war monger
and a corporate raider has become blindingly apparent
to even the most staunch of that leader's supporters.
I am not proud to be an American in 2005. Anyone who
says they are proud is either an idiot or a liar.
The last time this country had any
reason to feel righteous, hopeful and joyous about
their war efforts was indeed WWII. I didn't live then.
I know that much of the hindsight which leads me to
this statement may be flawed with overt patriotism
and revisionist history, but I don't care. At least,
in hindsight, WWII seemed like a war worth fighting,
a cause worth risking your life for.
"The Great Raid" is an old school,
WWII rescue mission film about men willing to risk
their lives in order to save a group of their peers
in a Japanese P.O.W. camp. I know this kind of film
has been made before. I know that there are many films
very similar made in the past. But, Goddamn it, we
need a film like this right now - in the summer of
2005 in an America ruled by the Bush puppeteers, a
film that makes us feel proud about living in this
country.
We used to be a brave, bold, righteous,
valiant and honest country. What the fuck happened
to us? Who has ruined this country over the past 60
years? Ask yourself that.
JFK, Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton?
I don't think so.
Go see "The Great Raid." The film
is bookended by historical footage from the WWII era
(some of it may actually be footage related to the
incident that takes place here and the people who
were involved, I'm not sure) that will fill you with
joy and a sense of honor. This is a "Saving Private
Ryan" that is 500-fold more exhilarating because 500
more men are saved. Yes, "Ryan" is a far better film
and one that is about so much more than what this
one is about, but it doesn't matter. This film is
a much needed reminder of just how wonderful are the
foundations upon which this country was built. In
this movie, we fight for what is right and we leave
no man behind when we do so. There seems to be nothing
more American that this notion.
Yes, there are Asian villains in
the film. But this is based upon a true historical
incident. I know the villains here are rather two-dimensional.
I don't care. I need a film that makes me feel proud
to be an American. That reminded me of the sacrifices
made by my Grandfather and his generation. No one
here is a hero. No one here gives overblown speeches
about heroism or patriotism or glory. The writing
is quite subtle and subdued. Sure, these issues are
touched up but only in a way that reminds us of what
the heart of heroism is really all about.
The actors here are simply perfect.
Benjamin Bratt and James Franco give outstanding performances.
So does Joseph Fiennes, even though he is stuck in
a rather traditional and hackneyed role. Sure, there's
narration and a set-up speech that borders on being
overblown. And on and on. I supposed if for some crazy
reason you wanted to knock this movie down, you could
find several reason. But why would you? That would
be like knocking someone down on their way to the
psychiatrists office (Yes, I'm talking to you Tom
fucking idiot Cruise). That would be like finding
fault in the Statue of Liberty. Why would you do that?
Why would you stop someone from doing something that
is good for them? "The Great Raid" will make you feel
good about being an American again. That's plenty
of reason to go see it and forgive it some of its
Hollywood war film genre trappings.
And there are a ton of young hotties
in uniform here. I don't want to drag this film down
to that level but - DAMN - these are some fine looking
young men. James Franco is as hot as hot can be. Logan
Marshall-Green is practically edible. Hottie Mark
Consuelos (who used to be on "All My Children" - and
maybe still is - I don't know - and who is married
to Kelly Ripa) is here too and looking as cute as
ever. That's another thing great about this film.
The men here are all of the proper age group for a
WWII film. Consuelos is in his early 30's and is the
proper age for soldiers of WWII. And he still looks
as hunky and handsome as ever. This isn't a film about
a bunch of young Hollywood brats playing soldiers.
This is a real film trying to remind us of a real
moment in history using solid actors to portray the
events. Yes, most of them look scrumptious in their
uniforms but that's not the point. That's just a bonus.
John Dahl's direction is quite wonderful.
The film has some clumsy moments of exposition but
Dahl moves through them as competently and as focused
as one would hope. We have to have the set-up for
the climax to work - and work it does. Dahl makes
sure we know a little about the characters and care
about them. It is because of this, even with the moments
of precarious set-up, that we care about the men here.
As in "Titanic," this extended exposition sets us
in motion for a powerful and emotional pay-off with
the climax. If you can make it through the end of
this film without getting teary- eyed, then you are
either a rock or an island or far to cynical to have
a heart. Dahl hits all the right emotional notes.
The end credits music is just wonderful accenting
the heartwarming archival footage from WWII.
I need a film that makes my heart
swell with honor and pride and happiness at the notion
that Americans are brave and valiant people. "The
Great Raid" is such a film. This is the right film
at the right time.
Notes:
In English and sparse Japanese and
Filipino with and without subtitles.
The incidents depicted here relate
to Gen. Douglas McArthur's "I shall return" statement
and to the Bataan Death March and the P.O.W. rescue
at Cabanatuan in the Philippines in early 1945.
Lawrence Bender, Bob and Harvey
Weinstein are producers. This is one of the films
that the Weinstein brothers left at Miramax after
they departed to form their own distribution company.
When that happened, Miramax began to release several
films that had been sitting on the shelf with little
fanfare, this being one of them. This film had been
shot in early 2002 and has been completed and on the
shelf since 2003.
Music by Trevor Rabin.
Mainly filmed in Australia.
Based on a book called "Ghost Soldiers,"
which I think, at one time, was going to be the name
of the film. Tom Cruise and Spielberg have also had
a film based on the true incident depicted here in
pre-production for several years with that title but
it's doubtful it will ever be made since this film
has been released. David Fincher also had a project
about these incidents in the works called "They Fought
Alone" which has also apparently been scrapped.
Johnny Depp was approached to play
the role that eventually went to Bratt.
Viewed in Austin in August 2005.
