Film Review Only Director: Clint Eastwood Screenplay; William Broyles Jr. and Paul Haggis Actors: Ryan Phillippe, Jesse Bradford, Adam Beach, John Benjamin Hickey, John Slattery. Classification: 15 Run Time: 127 minutes
~~ Introduction ~~ I've been impressed with recent films directed by Clint Eastwood (Mystic River, Million Dollar Baby) and I really wanted to like this film, but unfortunately I found the outcome disappointing. Flags of Our Fathers is adapted from the book by James Bradley (the son of one of the survivors) about the event surrounding a famous photograph taken by Joe Rosenthalin in February 1945. I read the book a few years ago and I think director Clint makes a brave attempt to stick to the historical facts and what he tries to do is to some extent an honest and worthy endeavour. However the film fails to make an impact on a number of levels.
~~ Synopsis ~~ The story revolves around John "Doc" Bradley (Ryan Phillippe), Rene Gagnon (Jesse Bradford) and Ira Hayes (Adam Beach), three soldiers who were part of the American military's invasion of the island Iwo Jima during World War II and who were falsely given credit for being present in the famous photograph of 'Old Glory'. This was the name given to the flag that was raised on Mount Suribachi on the fifth day of the battle for the island. Joe Rosenthal snapped the picture that would hit the front pages back home. The picture of the flag - referred to in the film as the 'one shot that could end the war' - and the three flag raisers are taken on a victory tour across the USA to be used as part of a propaganda campaign by the American authorities whose aim it was to raise finance for the war and boost morale for a homeland population suffering from war fatigue.
~~ Historical Background ~~ Something that for me does not really come across well in the film is the historical and strategic importance of the US invasion. The island of Iwo Jima had an airstrip that was of vital strategic importance to the US, for it enabled bombers to refuel on their way to and from Japan instead of making a treacherous journey back to American bases in Guam. More than 20,000 Japanese and nearly 7,000 American troops died during the bloody siege. The flag was raised on the fifth day of battle, after U.S. troops had secured the island's high point on Mount Suribachi. Contrary to the propaganda campaign in the USA, the raised flag did not signify victory nor the end of the battle on the island which continued to rage for a further 31 days. Furthermore, there were to flags hoisted that day and although the three soldiers named above did actually hoist the stars and stripes, they weren't part of the group that hoisted the first flag. The original flag was put up by soldiers who were later killed in combat and who were never given credit whilst other soldiers who had nothing to do with the event were treated as heroes. If that seems confusing you'll be even more confused after watching the film.
~~ Screenplay and Editing ~~ I found this a very difficult film to follow. It is a nonlinear movie that jumps backwards and forwards to different time periods and is all the worse for it. For most of the film I remained perplexed. It was only after viewing the DVD for the second time that I actually worked out some of what was going on, and even then I still had to keep winding the disk back. The story is told by way of an awkward fragmented editing technique whereby separate time periods are intertwined. This can work well if it adds interest or suspense to a film (Crash, 21 Grams, Babel), but here it only leaves the viewer completely bewildered and prevents any build up in dramatic tension. The really confusing part is where editor Joel Cox mixes scenes of the battle with the propaganda tour at home. It's never clear whether the battle is taking place at the same time as the campaign or whether the campaign is occurring after the Battle. There are further intermixed sequences where we see some of the survivors telling their story to Bradley's son James (Tom McCarthy) as he records events and tries to understand his father's legacy, but I'm never sure who these survivors are. In the second part of the film we learn the post-conflict fate of the three acclaimed flag raisers. This could have been wrapped up much quicker, but instead it drags on for far too long. The descent into tedium becomes inevitable and you're soon tapping your fingers waiting for the film to end.
~~ Special Effects ~~ The main battle sequence of the invasion is probably the best part of the movie and bears the hallmark of Spielberg who assisted with its production. There is effective use of CGI imagery depicting vast vistas dotted with landing craft, battleships and planes as the Americans start shelling the Japanese fortifications on the island in preparation for invasion. There are some impressive CGI sequences viewed from inside the cockpit of American fighter planes as they attack the Japanese hide-outs on the island. Then when the gory battle commences there is plenty of grisly detail as limbs are cut off, heads decapitated and guts spliced open. The images and sounds effects also evoke a sense of realism, but as so often with CGI, one is always at risk of video game syndrome and at times it felt like I was participating in Xbox World War II Combat Iwo Jima. This is exacerbated by the fact that the soldiers in battle remain distant and unidentifiable.
~~ Acting and Script ~~ Some have criticised the film for its lack of a big star cast, but I think it's just that the actors are never given a chance to develop their characters. Throughout the film there is an overall lack of compelling human figures and we never really get to share in their pain, frustration or suffering. This lack of personal depth is not helped by the weak, clichéd and instantly forgettable poor script. We never really get to know the three surviving flag raisers and we don't care when their compatriots die. Probably the only character we really get close to is Ira Hayes (played by Adam Beach who gives the only memorable performance in the film). Hayes is an indigenous native American and a reluctant flag raising hero who struggles to come to terms with the propaganda role he is forced into. Unlike the book, the movie fails to connect us with the "real heroes" of Iwo Jima; the three men who lost their lives in combat. Their deaths are confirmed in half a minute of combat sequences in which, once again, it's really difficult to identify who's who. The only moment the film evoked some emotion in me was when the final credits rolled and black and white photographs were shown of the real people and actual events of Iwo Jima 1945.
~~ Conclusion ~~ One overriding message of the film seems to be that wars may be won with bullets and bombs but also require symbols to manufacture public consent. Unfortunately Flags of Our Fathers fails in its worthy examination of the value of propaganda and the lengths that governments will go in order to dupe the public. Another theme questions the value and meaning of heroism but the film never seems to be sure of exactly where it stands and is tinged with contradiction. On the one hand: 'every soldier stands beside a hero', whilst a concluding commentary proclaims 'heroes are something we create, something we need' - implying that they don't exist. Somehow the ideal of patriotism and hero worship is never fully abandoned. Any value or potential that the film contains is really diminished by the tiresome script, awful incomprehensible screenplay and uncharismatic actors that are either too wooden or too distant. I would say that there is enough useful content to make the film still worthy of watching, but in no way does it live up to the emotional sophistication or in depth characterisation of films such as 'Saving Private Ryan' and 'Thin Red Line'.
Despite my misgivings about 'Flags', I'm still looking forward to watching the follow-up 'Letters from Iwo Jima' - the companion movie which I believe is vastly superior. It is also directed by Clint Eastwood and filmed entirely from the Japanese perspective.
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