Movie Review: Flags of our Fathers
<em>Flags of our Fathers</em> was released on this date in 2006. The film was directed by Clint Eastwood and starred Ryan Phillippe, Jessie Bradford and Adam Beach.Synopsis:
Flags of our Fathers is the true story of the six soldiers who raised the American flag at the Battle of Iwo Jima during World War II. The raising of the flag was captured in a picture that became iconic. When the soldiers returned home they were treated like heroes, but the truth about the event was hidden from the public. The soldiers must deal with their own guilt and regret for earning credit for something they don’t feel they deserve.
Positives:
- Clint Eastwood is one of our finest directors and you can feel his skill and professionalism in the film. You can tell everyone in front of the camera, as well as behind it, are giving it their all.
- Adam Beach gives a wonderful performance and is definitely the stand out of the film.
- The true story of what happened at the Battle of Iwo Jima is an interesting one and definitely something that is worthy of having a film made about it.
Negatives:
- The film falls victim to a lot of the World War 2 clichés we have seen in films prior. The battle scenes, dialog and a lot of the themes have been explored many times. It all feels a little tired, despite having a worthy story to tell.
- Ryan Phillippe and Jessie Bradford weren’t up to the challenge of their roles in the film, despite being really invested in their performances. I have liked both actors in other projects, but here they just seem way out of their league; their performances suffer even more when you compare them to Adam Beach.
In Closing:
Flags of our Fathers is a well-made picture, but it just never feels fresh. That may be unfair, since it’s based on a true story, but the execution of the film should have tried to separate itself from movies like Saving Private Ryan. The performances of two of the lead actors aren’t strong enough for a film of this pedigree and that really hurts the emotional core of Flags of our Fathers. Clint Eastwood is a great director, but sadly this isn’t one of his better efforts.
Rating: C-