Directed by:
Keith GordonScreenplay:
Keith GordonCinematography:
Tom RichmondComposer:
Mark IshamCast:
Ethan Hawke, Peter Berg, Kevin Dillon, Arye Gross, Gary Sinise, Frank Whaley, John C. McGinley, David Jensen, Larry Joshua, Andre Lamal, Curt LowensPlots(1)
In 1944, a six-man American intelligence and reconnaissance unit is sent by their reckless major on a mission in a remote part of the Ardennes forest on the German front. Isolated in a remote villa in the dead of winter, they wind up developing a cryptic relationship with a small band of German soldiers nearby who've all but given up on the war effort. The disillusioned soldiers come face-to-face with one another in a beautifully filmed series of events, sharing Christmas carols, snowball fights, and a mutual desire to stay alive. Ethan Hawke stars as Will Knot, the young leader of the American unit who agrees to fake a battle with the German soldiers, who want to surrender peaceably but save their reputation. (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Reviews (1)
Similar to Pollack's Castle Keep, the literary origin is absolutely apparent here, which may not sit well with those waiting for machine-gun fire and guts spilling at the bottom of trenches. Just like in William Wharton's novel, the ugliness of war is more often recalled through the joys of life, while everything moves towards proving the absolute unpredictability of the madness of war, where good will and intentions can quickly turn into something terrible. What Hans Zimmer's music did for The Thin Red Line, Mark Isham's score does here. Its magic elevates it to another level...
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