Tag Archives: Marlon Brando

Best War Films of all times (10+1list)

Best War Films of all times.

written by Souranath Banerjee.

There are two categories of war films. The first type glamorizes and romanticizes the concept of war for the entertainment of the audience, as most of us want to enjoy the thrill of the battle-zone but shy away from the real horrors and perils of it.

Now the second kind of films actually portray war as realistically as possible; the bloodshed, the destruction, the cries of the wounded and the death of the young and innocents.

“It is forbidden to kill; therefore all murderers are punished unless they kill in large numbers and to the sound of trumpets.”

The cinemas listed below mostly belong to the second category; films that have the courage to paint the real ugly face of war and tell stories of not only courage and strength and also of brutality and helplessness of both soldiers and the civilians.

Let the list begin.

10. Paths of Glory (1957)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmDA60X-f_A

paths-of-glory-posterDirected by Stanley Kubrick, for me this film has always scored higher than his other two famous war films Full Metal Jacket (1987) and Dr. Strangelove (1964).

The ruthlessness of war (WW I) and the dirty war-politics played by the higher army officials – both portrayed to perfection.

One of Kirk Douglas‘s most memorable performances. 

9. Apocalypse Now (1979)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkrhkUeDCdQ

apocalypse-now-posterDirector Francis Ford Coppola shot nearly 200 hours of footage – a film that took 16 months of shooting and 3 years of editing.

A highly potent mix of Martin Sheen and Marlon Brando and the disturbing Vietnam War. 

The sound of the helicopter wings panning from left to right as they are match cut with the ceiling fan – simply epic!

8. Come and See (1985)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-Ro0SZf438

Come-and-see-posterIn this film the horrors of war (WW II) is depicted in the most realistic manner (often too graphic and brutal). 

Directed by Elem Klimov, the film is about a young boy who finds an old rifle and decides to join the Soviet Army. 

Original uniforms and live ammunitions were used for authenticity.

7. All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiObc2XmVqw

all-quiet-on-the-western-front-posterBanned in Germany soon after it’s release as they claimed that the Germans were shown as cowards.

Directed by Lewis Milestone, this was the first talkie war film to win the Oscar! (won best picture and best director).

Though visuals of extreme violence was consciously avoided but still the film’s depiction of WW I is honest and brutal.

6. Das Boot (1981)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMj0_wCn6jM

das-boot-posterDirected by Wolfgang Petersen this is the epic tale of the crew of a German U-boat (submarine) during the last phase of WW II. 

Highly claustrophobic (most of the film is shot inside the submarine) and yet so dramatic and powerful. Some of the tensed moments in the film are slow and nerve wrenching.

Jürgen Prochnow gives a brilliant performance!

5. The Thin Red Line (1998)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCmlOhsIwBk

The-Thin-Red-Line-PosterDirected by Terrence Malick the film was nominated for Oscars in 7 categories!

A kind of a philosophical war film starring Jim CaviezelSean PennNick NolteAdrien BrodyJohn CusackJohn C. ReillyWoody HarrelsonJared LetoJohn TravoltaGeorge Clooney.

‘Every man fights their own war’ and so does each of them!

4. The Cruel Sea (1953)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joUDAD3GB3g

cruel-sea-poster

Though successful when released, this one is among the less popular war films but believe me, it surely deserves a spot in this list.

Directed by Charles Frend, this one is a terrific war drama of a British convoy ship in action over the North Atlantic during the WW II. 

Powerful script and and tensed situations and superb acting, specially by Jack Hawkins.

3. Platoon (1986)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KztP7SKe0uk

platoon-posterWar often gets too brutal for the young recruits and the Vietnam War was no different.

The film is directed by Oliver Stone (himself a Vietnam veteran) and he also won the Oscar for this film on Vietnam War!

It is said to be the most complete war film ever made, though it’s banned in Vietnam because of its depiction of the Vietnamese

2. The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlC7XBayj0s

bridge-on-the-river-kwai-posterDirected by  David Lean who is also famous for his other war films like In Which We Serve (1942) and Lawrence of Arabia (1962).

British prisoners in the Japanese camp ordered to built a bridge, one of the greatest WW II war drama. The film took 7 Oscars that year, won in all the major categories!

William HoldenAlec Guinness and Jack Hawkins has given their career best performances.

1. Saving Private Ryan (1998)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EsVtn2GvBo

saving-private-ryan-poster

A team lead by Tom Hanks was set to save Private Ryan (Matt Damon) and bring him home.

Steven Spielberg directed this film and according to many it contains some of the most authentic war scenes ever filmed (specially the Omaha Beach battle sequence).

Probably the most popular war film ever. Also Voted #1 greatest war film in UK’s Channel 4 poll in 2005. 

and (The ‘+1′ film is not necessarily the best but certainly the most profound and unique one. A must watch).

+1. Ivan’s Childhood (1962)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=setzqMoEEUU

ivan's-childhood-posterThis is the story of 12 year old Ivan directed by the famous Russian director Andrei Tarkovsky

A spy at such an young age, Ivan has seen the perils of war too closely and yet he again voluntarily wants to risk his life for his country.

The film is one of the most poetic and beautifully shot war films. Though it doesn’t show much of actual combat but still it delivers the chills of war to it’s full effect.

A few other war-films that could have easily made the list are Stalingrad (1993), Enemy at the Gates (2001), Patton (1970), Ran (1985), The Dirty Dozen (1967), The Cross of Iron (1977), Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970), Red Cliff (2008), Letters from Iwo Jima (2006), Rome, Open City (1945), The Guns of Navarone (1961), A Bridge Too Far (1977), The Hurt Locker (2008), Where Eagles Dare (1968) and La Grande Illusion (1937).

When Blue Jasmine rides A streetcar named Desire!

When Blue Jasmine rides A streetcar named Desire!

written by Souranath Banerjee.

As I was watching the 1951 classic A Streetcar Named Desire (again), this time I couldn’t help but pause over this particular dialogue.

“Why, I guess he’s just not the type that goes for jasmine perfume”

Vivien Leigh in a state of nervous humor voiced the above quoted line to define Marlon Brando’s character in the film.

In 2013 (after more than 60 years) the name ‘Jasmine’ used by Woody Allen for the lead character in his latest film Blue Jasmine doesn’t seem all like a coincidence after all – huh?

A-Streetcar-Named-Desire-poster5In 1951 little did Vivien Leigh knew that Miss Blanche du Bois (the name of her character in A Streetcar Named Desire) would rise like a phoenix from the ashes of it’s past Oscar glory (Vivien Leigh won the Oscar in the best actress category that year) and soar high to the same heights (since Cate Blanchett also won the Oscar in the best actress category) – only this time her name would be Jasmine.

Yes, in 2013 Woody Allen directed Blue Jasmine which in many ways is a modern and superficial comic version of the age-old classic A streetcar named desire directed by Elia Kazan. And Cate Blanchett masterfully plays the delusional sister (Jasmine) who has lost everything in life and yet awaits to loose a lot more. 

Basic story structure. (This fits perfectly for both the films)

Blue-Jasmine-poster-touch-upsIt is the story of a middle-aged woman who is robbed from her wealth, relations and social status; she comes to stay with her sister (her only family) in a desperate effort to live a better life.

She is too classy and refined for her new environment and thus has difficulty to cope up with her sister’s middle-class husbands/boyfriends. In her desperate attempt to survive she tries her best to fall in love. But unfortunately her scandalous past creeps up and crushes her sugary dreams of a satisfying future.

In the end she is more damaged than ever; delusional, helpless and alone in this unsympathetic world. A slow and brutal tale of human degradation, of failure and disappointment marvelously captured by both Elia Kazan and Woody Allen through their individualistic cinematic approach.

Personally I am so disturbed by the tragic ending(s). In a way it’s so real and possible – that’s why all the more scary.

 Jasmine Vs Blanche.

The basic contrast between Jasmine (in Blue Jasmine) and Blanche (in A streetcar named desire) lies in the core reason of their complexity.

streetcar-named-desire-poster1For instance Jasmine’s primary problem is the forced degradation of her social status/class. She declares herself broke but couldn’t get rid of her past expensive habits of flying first-class, tipping her taxi driver extra-good, carrying expensive fashionable bags; and she has also lost touch of actually working for a living.

On the other hand Blanche’s principal complication is related to her own fading looks (the negative effects of aging) which according to her leads to lack of companionship. She needs make-up and hot baths in regular intervals; extremely conscious about her looks, she craves compliments for her face, figure, hair, clothes, jewelries …

They were both happy in their own worlds but alas! – they are bankrupt and they both carry the burden of the tainted hidden secrets from their pasts. Their back-stories are pretty different but equally disturbing and they often intend to survive their past memories by having a drink or two.

“Who do you have to sleep with around here to get a Stoli martini with a twist of lemon?” – Jasmine.

Blue-Jasmine-posterAt the very beginning Jasmine flies from New York to San Francisco to her sister’s place blabbering all about her broken life story, then she takes the regular taxi to arrive at her destination. Whereas Blanche takes the train from Auriol to New Orleans and then takes the dramatically named streetcar called Desire to reach her destination.

Blanche gets to arrive in a much more dramatic way (even her first appearance is very noticeable as she mysteriously appears from behind the smokes and the crowd).

I feel that the amount of emotional drama is much more heightened as Elia Kazan (very much intentionally) compels us to take a roller-coaster ride through a series of extreme melodramatic highs and lows of emotions in his film A street car named desire. On contrary in Blue Jasmine (I am sure it’s again a deliberate decision) Woody Allen keeps all of it a tad subtle and wickedly comic, but mind you the overall emotional effect the film delivers is not played softly at all.

street-car-named-desire-posterThough Jasmine doesn’t have to face any physical violence (rape) as compared to unfortunate Blanche, but the rejection from their respective lovers, the dismissal from their sisters as well as the rest of the society is enough for them to loose their mind completely.

In Blue Jasmine the informative flashbacks are cleverly used in regular intervals to break the linear pattern of storytelling. Whereas in A streetcar named desire the vocal echo of certain words and memories (and also the sound of a shot fired) are beautifully layered as a continuous remembrance of the past and a constant proof of Blanche’s unstable mind.

And lastly the brilliant use of music – Blue Moon and the polka tune of Varsouviana.

Blue-jasmine-poster1Blanche (Vivien Leigh) often in a melancholy way felt nostalgic recalling the music to which she danced the Varsouviana; sometimes she would even imagine the same polka-tune playing in her head, the one they were playing in the Moon Lake Casino that tragic night when soon after her young lover Allan committed suicide.

On the other hand a unique way of portraying Jasmine’s blue world, Woody Allen used the song ‘Blue Moon’ not only as a music piece but a simple link to Jasmine’s once happy past; the song which was playing when she first met her husband Hal at a party. Jasmine (Cate Blanchett) repeats this romantic ‘Blue Moon’ story five times throughout the film to anyone who would care (or dare) to listen, and each time you cannot help but smile at her – a sad smile perhaps.