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Written by: John Milius and Francis Ford Coppola, Michael Herr (narration), Joseph Conrad (novella "Heart of Darkness", uncredited)
Directed by: Francis Ford Coppola
Starring: Martin Sheen, Marlon Brando, Robert Duvall, Laurence Fishburne, Harrison Ford, Dennis Hopper, Scott Glenn
Rated: R
Watch the trailer
Plot
A U.S. Army officer serving in Vietnam is tasked with assassinating a renegade Special Forces Colonel who sees himself as a god.
Verdict
It's an impressive piece of film making. Every choice is deliberate and the production design adds such depth in every scene. Tasked with eliminating a chaos agent, the journey itself is an exploration of madness. It doesn't feel dated, and it's clearly a well executed vision; a shining example of what a film can be and the themes it can explore.
Watch It.
Review
I watched Redux which released in 2001 with fifty minutes of additional footage. It includes scenes that were cut from the theatrical release,
such as those at the French plantation, the crew meeting the Playmates,
and more scenes with Kilgore. It's clear why these scenes were cut as they ruin pacing.
When the movie released initially reviews were divided, but now this is considered one of the greatest films. Released just a few years after Vietnam, originally it had no beginning or end credits.
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| Martin Sheen plays Captain Benjamin Willard |
Captain Benjamin Willard (Martin Sheen) is a traumatized soldier back in Saigon. He wanted to get out, but back home he missed having a mission. He wasn't happy during the war, and he's no good back in the states. He's out of sorts, spiraling in his own thoughts in a hotel room before he gets a mission. With his narration, it seems ominous. He's assigned to eliminate Colonel Kurtz (Marlon Brando). Kurtz has seemingly gone insane, leading his own army in the jungle.
Visually arresting in just the first few scenes, while narration can be a crutch that's not the case here. The script knows how to leverage it, putting us in Willard's head. We know he doesn't have it all together. Part of what helps this look good is the production design. Scenes are full with people, helicopters in the background, and soldiers everywhere. It's busy and crowded, making us feel like we're there. This has several amazing scenes. The pack of helicopters in the sky while "Ride of the Valkyries" plays is a transcendent moment.
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| Robert Duvall plays Lieutenant Colonel Bill Kilgore |
Kilgore (Robert Duvall) is supposed to be Willard's transport up river towards Kurtz. Kilgore is unaware of the orders and hesitant until he realizes a well known surfer is part of Willard's detail. While Willard is wary of Kilgore, there are plenty of dangers in the jungle. Willard studies the dossier on Kurtz, impressed that Kurtz gave up rank and prestige to join the special forces at thirty-eight years old. Everyone else in Kurtz's class was half his age and Kurtz passed anyway. Kurtz was an ideal soldier that made a decision blocking the rest of his career. Willard is intrigued, and you have to imagine that's how it starts and how Kurtz has amassed a following.
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| Dennis Hopper, Martin Sheen play a photojournalist, Captain Benjamin Willard |
The longer the mission continues, the more unhinged the detail becomes. The whole trip is up river and away from society, though the society they're leaving isn't all that civilized. The closest we get to normal is Kilgore as he bombs villages while just wanting to surf. This entire journey ventures into darkness, going up river into the unknown where the job is to kill an enemy of the state.
I'm sure this movie was way different at the time, and it's still unique. This doesn't feel dated in anyway, both ahead of its time and yet rooted in the past. It's a story about the journey more than the destination. We wonder with Willard what makes Kurtz charismatic. Is he a voice of confidence in the wild? Something steady amid chaos? If Willard reaches Kurtz will he carry out the mission?
This is such an amazing film; an achievement in cinema. The choices are deliberate in how this looks and what it does. There's an attention to detail in every shot. It's absolutely required viewing.
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