1917 (2019)

Whenever a new war film hits cinemas chances are it's World War II-related. And how to blame those filmmakers? I'm the first who finds it a very, if not the most fascinating one. Sam Mendes goes against the crowd with his latest film 1917, a World War I film that can be described with two words, masterful filmmaking.

Paths of Glory (1957)

Genres

Drama, War

Director

Stanley Kubrick

Country

USA

Cast

Kirk Douglas, Ralph Meeker, Adolphe Menjou, George Macready, Wayne Morris, Richard Anderson, Joe Turkel, Christiane Kubrick, Jerry Hausner, Peter Capell, Emile Meyer, Bert Freed, Kem Dibbs, Timothy Carey, Fred Bell, John Stein, Harold Benedict, James B. Harris

Storyline

When soldiers in World War I refuse to continue with an impossible attack, their superior officers decide to make an example of them.

Opinion

I've never liked WWI. To be honest, I even hated studying it at school. And I know it's pretty creepy to say this, but it's movies like Paths of Glory that makes me love that war. Okay, maybe love isn't the right word here, but I think you get what I'm trying to say. But just in case you didn't, what I meant is that Kubrick's is one of the most beautiful - once again, not the most appropriate word - and thought-provoking films about war ever made.

Kubrick brought to the screen a disgusting, fictional story that unfortunately is a very accurate portrait of what goes on during wars and that denounces the insanity, sickness of war and military forces. Selfish and glory-seeking generals who use soldiers as pawns, as if they were playing a chess game, ordering them to do not impossible but inhuman things, playing with these men's lives as if they were god, and treating them like numbers.

What I like the most about Paths of Glory is that Kubrick did something he didn't do in Full Metal Jacket, he showed the ugliness and violence of war without actually involving violence. He was able to deliver that violence and drama through words, feelings and heart-wrenching scenes.

Equally impressive is the way Kubrick handled such a dramatic story, without his usual special effects. He instead made a beautiful use of lights and shadows - the trenches are gloomy and almost claustrophobic and they feel very real. The music is also brilliant as well as the silences used just in the right moments.

And let's not forget about the cast, another wonderful aspect of the film. It really couldn't have been any better with great performances from everyone, from Ralph Meeker as a brave soldier sentenced for cowardice, to Kirk Douglas, the colonel who opposes to such injustice.

Joyeux Noël (2005)

Genre

Drama | History | War

Director

Christian Carion

Country

France | Germany | UK | Belgium | Romania

Cast

Diane Kruger, Benno Fürmann, Guillaume Canet, Gary Lewis, Alex Ferns, Dany Boon, Daniel Brühl, Christian Carion, Christopher Fulford, Mathia Herrmann, Neil McNulty, Lucas Belvaux, Steven Robertson, Suzanne Flon, Bernard Le Coq, Ian Richardson

Storyline

In December 1914, the Scottish, the German and the French troops have a moment of truce and share moment of peace and friendship.

Opinion

I've been meaning to watch this for ages but never got around it because it's about WWI, the World War I never liked. The other night I finally decided to watch it and I do regret not doing it earlier.

Easily one of the best films about WWI ever made, "Joyeux Noël" is a wonderful and moving feel-good film that shows mankind at its best.

What makes this film different than other feel-good movies? The story. Since it's based on real events, it was a story worth telling, and the filmmakers did a wonderful job both writing and telling it. The plot is fantastic, well developed and extremely engaging. I'm not sure how many liberties were taken, but I'm sure they kept intact the message, a credible, genuine message of hope.

To successfully portray the flaws of war and the common desire for peace of the soldiers, director Christian Carion used a combination of comedy and drama that is just perfect. The heartbreaking moments are perfectly balanced with heartwarming ones. Also the use of three different languages makes the film even more beautiful because it shows that friendship can tear down all barriers.

Just like other before it, "Joyeux Noël" truly shows the absurdity of war, where young men are forced to kill each other while those who started the war, the political leaders, do nothing but stay at home enjoying their lives like nothing is happening.

This film not only is entertaining and does have a powerful message, but it's also beautiful to look at. The cinematography and the editing are indeed absolutely stunning and flawless. The sets are spectacular. Also, the musical score is fantastic, and the cast is excellent.

La grande guerra (1959)

Genre

Comedy | Drama | War

Director

Mario Monicelli

Country

Italy | France

Cast

Alberto Sordi, Vittorio Gassman, Silvana Mangano, Folco Lulli, Bernard Blier, Romolo Valli, Vittorio Sanipoli, Nicola Arigliano, Geronimo Meynier, Mario Valdemarin, Elsa Vazzoler, Tiberio Murgia, Livio Lorenzon, Ferruccio Amendola, Gianni Baghino, Carlo D'Angelo, Achille Compagnoni, Luigi Fainelli, Marcello Giorda, Tiberio Mitri, Gérard Herter, Guido Celano

Storyline

Italy, 1916. After both trying in every way to avoid serving the army, slackers Oreste Jacovacci (Alberto Sordi) and Giovanni Busacca (Vittorio Gassman) are called to serve the army in WWI. 

Opinion

The Italians, unlike many others, don't have a problem making fun of themselves and serious matters. Then there I am, the atypical Italian, who, perhaps because of my partly German heritage, don't feel like making fun of important matters, but can't help but be delighted by those kind of films when they have the right combination of irony, satire and drama, and Mario Monicelli's "La grande guerra" is one of those.

A wonderful combination of comedy and tragedy, the film is an ironic and poignant portrait of life in the trenches on the Italian front of World War I.

Through the simple and touching stories of the characters, that intertwined because of the war, Mario Monicelli manages to engage and move yesterday, today and tomorrow's audience, and makes you reflect on the horrors of the Great War by describing its stupidity and futility. Not only does he highlight what a terrible thing war is, but makes you realize that it's done by ordinary people, their defects (pettiness and fake heroism) and their merits (courage and generosity), and that are the poorest, peasants in this case, to suffer the most. 

This Italian-Style comedy, written by Age & Scarpelli, Monicelli and Luciano Vincenzoni, is not just about the Great War but it also is a wonderful story of friendship. Since they first met, one can sense that the two main characters won't only share an "adventure" but also become great friends, despite everything.

"La grande guerra" also brings to the screen some flaws of the Italians, commonplaces indeed but with a kernel of truth. Among cunning and recommendations, Giovanni Busacca and Oreste Jacovacci stand out, two slackers overwhelmed by a terrible event to which they absolutely don't want to participate. Both cowards, they differ in their death: Busacca redeems himself dying as a hero, Jacovacci instead dies a coward as he pronounces his last sentence "Io non so niente! Se lo sapessi, ve lo direi! Io so un vijacco, lo sanno tutti!//I don't know it anything! If I knew it, I would tell! I'm a coward, everyone knows that!" 

Lastly, the actors. Monicelli would never have done such a great film without great actors. Vittorio Gassman and Alberto Sordi are a wonderful pair, and do a great job in their role of Giovanni Busacca and Oreste Jacovacci.

Theeb (2014)

Original Title

ذيب 

Genre

Adventure | Drama

Director

Naji Abu Nowar

Country

Jordan | United Arab Emirates | Qatar | UK

Cast

Jacir Eid Al-Hwietat, Hussein Salameh Al-Sweilhiyeen, Hassan Mutlag Al-Maraiyeh, Jack Fox

Storyline

During World War I, a young Bedouin boy (Jacir Eid Al-Hwietat) experiences a greatly hastened coming of age as he embarks on a perilous desert journey to guide a British officer (Jack Fox) to his secret destination.

Opinion

As the night of the Oscar approaches, I'm trying to catch up on the films I've missed, and here I am, reviewing this beautiful little gem.

Feature length debut of Jordanian director Naji Abu Nowar, "Theeb" is a touching and thoughtful story of boyhood, manhood, survival and betrayal beautifully captured from start to finish.

We find ourselves in those same remote deserts that many years ago accommodated Lawrence of Arabia. Theeb's trip however is far less adventurous, and, unaware of the world and the men inhabiting it who do little good and a lot of bad, the young boy is forced to abandon childhood and he is catapulted into manhood.

With a simple, yet engaging and never boring story, and through the eyes of a boy, Naji Abu Nowar tells how war enters the nomadic life and upset the traditions, rules and balance of the people living in those lands.

Wolfgang Thaler's eloquent camerawork is fascinating and he captured the stunning scenery so beautifully that helps suggest emotional state. Not least is the extraordinary and hypnotic exotic musical score.

Nowar's decision to use non-actors in his debut was a bold move that eventually turned out to be absolutely spot-on. Jacir Eid Al-Hwietat portrays young Theeb wonderfully, and provides a sorrowfully expressive lead, and the affection for each other conveyed by him and Hussein Salameh Al-Sweilhiyeen (real-life cousin) is so intense that quickly wins you over. Hassan Mutlag Al-Maraiyeh does a fine job and he's menacing just enough as the ruthless Stranger.

If the wolves offer friendship, do not count on success. They will not stand beside you when you are facing death.

Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

Genre

Adventure | Biography | Drama

Director

David Lean

Country

UK

Cast

Peter O'Toole, Alec Guinness, Anthony Quinn, Jack Hawkins, Omar Sharif, José Ferrer, Anthony Quayle, Claude Rains, Arthur Kennedy, Donald Wolfit, Michel Ray, I. S. Johar, Zia Mohyeddin, Gamil Ratib, Ian MacNaughton, Hugh Miller, Fernando Sancho, Stuart Saunders, Jack Gwillim, Kenneth Fortescue, Harry Fowler, Howard Marion-Crawford, John Ruddock, Norman Rossington, Jack Hedley, Henry Oscar, Peter Burton

Storyline

The film follows brilliant, flamboyant and controversial British military figure Thomas Edward Lawrence (Peter O'Toole), who blazed his way to glory in the Arabian desert, then sought anonymity as a common soldier under an assumed name.

Opinion

I've heard nothing but great things about this film and Peter O'Toole's legendary performance, so yesterday, when I've finally seen it, I was not surprised at all at the beauty - quite reductive word - of this masterpiece.

Breathtaking and exciting, Lawrence of Arabia truly is one of the greatest cinematic achievements of all time, as well as the definition of epic.

In almost four hours of pure cinema, David Lean has managed, through images, rousing music, and exceptional performances, to tell the story of a man and of a people in such an engaging way that it is impossible to look away from the screen.

The film can claim wonderful scenes in the desert, the only clean place, with its dunes, oases and meager villages of transition, that add magic, and also shows the great diversity in Arab culture that answers to the various factions.

The attention to the detail of the characters is impressive: they all are beautifully written and interesting. But of course there is one that stands out: Lawrence. Every single thing is shown of this man, from his shameless exhibitionism, to his intelligence, from his eccentricity to his possible sexual orientation, how he managed to become an Arab, and to be accepted as one of them. 

And now Peter O'Toole. I know it may sound cheesy, but I can't not mention his eyes, probably the most beautiful ever seen. And now his intense, and heartbreaking performance. Peter O'Toole did a marvellous job as T.E. Lawrence, that, with his hundreds of shades of expression and his angelic appearance, will always be remembered as Lawrence, the man who loved the desert. The rest of the performances are also terrific, especially those of Alec Guinness in the role of cynical Prince Feisal, Anthony Quinn as Auda Abu Tayi, and the unforgettable Omar Sharif as Sherif Ali.

A must seen for all moviegoers. 

Quotes

William Potter: Ooh! It damn well 'urts!

T.E. Lawrence: Certainly it hurts.

Officer: What's the trick then?

T.E. Lawrence: The trick, William Potter, is not minding that it hurts.

Gallipoli (1981)

Genre

Adventure | Drama | History

Director

Peter Weir

Country

Australia

Cast

Mark Lee, Mel Gibson, David Argue, Bill Kerr, Robert Grubb, Tim McKenzie, Harold Hopkins, Charles Lathalu Yupingli, Heath Harris, Bill Hunter

Storyline

Australian sprinters Archy Hamilton (Mark Lee) and Frank Dunne (Mel Gibson) face the brutal realities of war when they join the Australian army and they are sent to fight in the Gallipoli campaign in Turkey during World War I.

Opinion

Slow paced, Gallipoli is a brilliant, impressive, powerful, deep, moving and underrated film about friendship between two young men, that highlights the foolishness, unfairness and uselessness of war.

Peter Weir directed and wrote a piece of art, and even though there is not much of a story, and barely something happens, the film perfectly manages to engage the audience. I do really appreciate his choice of taking most of the time to develop the characters, establishing a strong, and solid friendship between the main characters, and not losing time with pointless explosions or special effects as other directors would have.

The film immerses us in human loss more deeply than recent films like "Saving Private Ryan", and it is stunning from beginning to end, opening with the wonderful repartee between Archy and his uncle Jack, and closing with Archy repeating those same lines, as he is aware of his fate. The ending is one of the best in cinema history: as the drama occurs, Weir ends the film right there, leaving us with a stunning, yet heartbreaking final shot.

The stunning cinematography by Russell Boyd, and the musical score contribute to the creation of this Australian gem as well.

The very young Mel Gibson is very convincing as Frank Dunne, and gives a beautiful performance. Mark Lee does a great job as Archy Hamilton and the chemistry between Gibson and him is amazing. Great performances also come from supporting actors Bill Hunter and Bill Kerr.