Movie Reviews: Flags of Our Fathers Clint Eastwood's latest film is not our fathers Mystic River or Million Dollar Baby, but it is certainly a story that is not typical of Hollywood. The story surrounds the lives of three soldiers (six) who helped hoist the American flag atop the mountain on Iwo Jima who helped change the outlook on the U.S. World War II. It's not a story of heroism, is the story of three men who believe they are not heroic, at a time when America needed heroes. This is the story of three men forced to lie in order to assist the U.S. government to save face after a simple "typo" is the inspiration that our country needs to buy war bonds to keep the Government of bankruptcy during the war.
It is the exact opposite of the 2006 film other early TRADE CENTER heroism world that could be labeled child displays for heroism. Eastwood comes out of his way to present a story in which there are no heroes in war, only survivors left behind.
Broyles writers William, Jr. and Paul Haggis took a chance with the scenario in its unconventional narrative. It is told through flashbacks in the flashback periods of time jumping around. It is very fragmented, but it is also allowing us to look into the minds of soldiers whose past haunts them long after the war is over.
Ryan Phillippe is very strong as John "Doc" Bradley in the film but Adam Beach is Ira Hayes, who steels the screen whenever he can. Beach character is tormented by war and knows he is not a hero when so many of his friends died on Iwa Jima. It is drunk with alcohol to hide from his fears, he fails to tell the American people the truth about what happened on that island.
Its good to see Eastwood's take a chance on young players in particular since the last time he did was with Charlie Sheen in the rookie.
I hate to admit that I was hoping throughout the movie to appear as a senator or a senior leader, but he did not. He decided to stay completely behind the scenes in this film (although his son Kyle Eastwood will make their appearance, but does not survive long in this head is separated from the rest of him early in the battle on the island).
Posted on May 12, 2010.