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The Thin Red Line (1998)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers (WGA):
Release Date:
15 January 1999 (USA)
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Tagline:
Every man fights his own war.
Plot:
Director Terrence Malick's adaptation of James Jones' autobiographical 1962 novel, focusing on the conflict at Guadalcanal during the second World War. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Soldier
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Guadalcanal
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Japanese
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Rifle
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Accidental Death
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Awards:
Nominated for 7 Oscars.
Another 18 wins
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19 nominations
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NewsDesk:
(57 articles)
What I Watched, What You Watched: Installment #17
(From Rope Of Silicon. 15 November 2009, 1:17 AM, PST)
The Prisoner - Trailer And Website
(From LateFilmFull. 6 November 2009, 12:57 AM, PST)
(From Rope Of Silicon. 15 November 2009, 1:17 AM, PST)
The Prisoner - Trailer And Website
(From LateFilmFull. 6 November 2009, 12:57 AM, PST)
User Comments:
Malick's Heavenly War
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Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only) | Kirk Acevedo | ... | Pvt. Tella |
 | Sean Penn | ... | 1st Sgt. Welsh |
 | Penelope Allen | ... | Witt's Mother (as Penny Allen) |
 | Adrien Brody | ... | Cpl. Fife |
 | James Caviezel | ... | Pvt. Witt (as Jim Caviezel) |
| Benjamin Green | ... | Melanesian Villager (as Benjamin) |
 | Simon Billig | ... | Lt. Col. Billig |
 | Ben Chaplin | ... | Pvt. Bell |
| Mark Boone Junior | ... | Pvt. Peale |
 | George Clooney | ... | Capt. Bosche |
 | John Cusack | ... | Capt. Gaff |
| Norman Patrick Brown | ... | Pvt. Henry |
 | Woody Harrelson | ... | Sgt. Keck |
 | Elias Koteas | ... | Capt. Staros |
 | Nick Nolte | ... | Lt. Col. Tall |
Additional Details
MPAA:
Rated R for realistic war violence and language.
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
170 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Italy:T |
Iceland:16 |
Philippines:PG-13 |
New Zealand:M |
USA:TV-MA (cable rating) |
India:A (cinema release) |
Argentina:16 |
Australia:M |
Belgium:KT |
Finland:K-14 |
France:U |
Germany:16 |
Hong Kong:IIB |
Hungary:16 |
Netherlands:16 |
Norway:15 |
Portugal:M/16 |
Singapore:PG |
South Korea:12 |
Spain:13 |
Sweden:15 |
Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) |
Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) |
UK:15 |
USA:R |
Canada:14A
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Billy Bob Thornton recorded a narration for the three-hour-plus epic under the supervision of director Terrence Malick. However, the final print of the film has voice-overs by eight of the main characters in the film; none of the narration from Thornton is in the final print. In addition, several other stars who filmed scenes were left on the cutting-room floor, including Bill Pullman, Gary Oldman, Lukas Haas, Viggo Mortensen and Mickey Rourke.
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Goofs:
Anachronisms: There is a modern, fiberglass and foam surfboard on the beach.
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Quotes:
[first lines]
Private Witt: I remember my mother when she was dyin', looked all shrunk up and gray. I asked her if she was afraid. She just shook her head. I was afraid to touch the death I seen in her. I couldn't find nothin' beautiful or uplifting about her goin' back to God...
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Private Witt: I remember my mother when she was dyin', looked all shrunk up and gray. I asked her if she was afraid. She just shook her head. I was afraid to touch the death I seen in her. I couldn't find nothin' beautiful or uplifting about her goin' back to God...
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Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Undergrads: New Friends (#1.4)" (2001)
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Soundtrack:
The Unanswered Question
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FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (1349 total)
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This film is unlikely to be appreciated by audiences reared upon a diet of dumbed-down Hollywood action fare. However, if you're prepared to sit down and watch THE THIN RED LINE with no interruptions and give it the attention it deserves, you'll be rewarded with one of the most intelligent, poetic and stunningly beautiful films you're ever likely to see.
Director Terrence Malick's films are alive with a sense of pure cinema with every frame delivering such detail and richness that you could swear you were there. The only other person capable of bringing such an immediate sense of time and place and sheer nuance of film (although in a completely different way) is David Lean, another major league craftsman.
Here, again, Malick uses his customary voice-over device although this time as a means of vocalising the abstract thoughts of the various soldiers as they struggle to make some sense of the conflict. It's an interesting approach which allows the audience to identify with the characters in a far less superficial way than in, say, SAVING PRIVATE RYAN (the film THE THIN RED LINE is most often and most unfairly compared to). Malick is also not afraid to take time to illustrate the continuing natural backdrop to the carnage. Mother Nature almost seems to be occupying a pivotal supporting role as a detached observer on the sidelines, calmly and inscrutably watching the chaos develop.
It's a measure of Malick's complete disinterest with the normal conventions of Hollywood that actors such as Lucas Haas, Vigo Mortensen, Jason Patric, Mickey Rourke, Martin Sheen and Billy Bob Thornton all spent months in Queensland Australia and the Solomon Islands filming roles that ultimately ended up on the cutting room floor. Blink and you'll also miss major marquee players such as John Travolta and George Clooney. The stand-out performances come from Jim Caviezel and, especially, Nick Nolte.
Nolte just seems to be getting better and better as he gets older and his portrayal of tyrant Colonel Tall is something to see. I have never seen anyone express such an impotent sense of rage, anger and fury than Nolte does here. It's a fantastic performance from a real pro and it's a mystery to me why he didn't get an Oscar.
John Toll's pristine cinematography and Hans Zimmer's wonderfully evocative (Oscar-winning) score are other strong elements. The unusual music and visuals contrast so well that Malick sometimes fades out the noise of the shouting, explosions and guns, an effect that only serves to heighten the emotional power of the experience further.
You won't see a more beautiful film about the horrors of war. Movies like this make the task of trawling through the weekly diet of dumb formulaic junk served up by Hollywood almost seem worthwhile.