By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 2 cats
Director: Clint Eastwood
Starring: Adam Beach | Jesse Bradford | Ryan Phillippe
Country: united_states
Year: 2006
Running time: 132
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0418689/
Bruce says: “I happen to respect Clint Eastwood as a filmmaker. LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA is nothing short of magnificent. While my expectations were low going into FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS, I was not fully prepared in spite of all the mediocre reviews. Who can one blame for such a disaster as FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS? searching for an answer isn’t easy. LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA and FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS share the same writer (Paul Haggis of CRASH fame), the same editor (Joel Cox) and cinematographer (Tom Stern) although others were brought in for writing and editing.
“It appears that Iris Yamashita wrote a better screenplay for LETTERS than did Haggis and William Broyles Jr. for FLAGS. Gary Roach shares the editing credits for LETTERS with Cox and Cox alone is credited for FLAGS. Certainly a stronger hand was needed in editing this film.
“FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS tells the story of the six men who raised the flag on Iwo Jima in 1945. The six in the iconic photo were not necessarily the same men who raised the flag in the first photo. That world famous photo was, in fact, a reshoot. The film primarily focuses on three of the six flag raisers who survived Iwo Jima. Their stories are told from several points in time: what happened as they were inducted into the armed forces; what took place during the battle; how the various parent dealt
with their boys fame and death; the two flag raisings; the national media tour for selling war bonds, which made pawns of the three survivors; the present day memories of one of the men as relates them to his grandson.
“The decision was made to present the story as though it were a patchwork quilt or jigsaw puzzle. At times the editing is completely convoluted, giving the impression that the ordering of scenes was accomplished through randomization. In this overly long film it is difficult to remember which men were in the original photo and which were in the retake. ‘Uniform’ films are always hard to follow, even when the story is told in a straightforward way – often it is only the lips or occasionally the eyes that tell you who the character is. Because of the switching around from one time frame to another, the viewer’s ability to follow the characters is compromised to an excruciating degree. The dramatic thrust is lost in the process.
“Telling the story in a more direct and chronological manner might have salvaged the film somewhat; eliminating the grandson the present day sequences also might have tightened things up a bit. This story is compelling enough; it does not need to be presented as reminiscence. Too much is made of one of the three survivors being a Native American, unable to hold his liquor. I don’t doubt that Ira was the victim of disgusting prejudice and the butt of many jokes, but the larger story loses its balance when excessive attention is paid to one character. The films greater moments include a foolish, over-the-top reenactment of the flag raising in front of thousands who are packed into Soldier’s Field in Chicago and a fund raising banquet where officious waiters pour a bloodlike sauce over a white desert, a replica of the flag raising statue. The acting is flat; the sparks that flash through LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA are missing here. 2 cats”