Posted on 02/22/2003 7:53:23 PM PST by ZULU
GODS AND GENERALS / *1/2 (PG-13)
February 21, 2003
Gen. "Stonewall" Jackson: Stephen Lang Gen. Robert E. Lee: Robert Duvall Lt. Col. Joshua Chamberlain: Jeff Daniels Sgt. Thomas Chamberlain: C. Thomas Howell Sgt. "Buster" Kilrain: Kevin Conway Gen. John Bell Hood: Patrick Gorman Gen. Winfield Scott Hancock: Brian Mallon
Warner Bros. Pictures presents a film written and directed by Ronald F. Maxwell. Based on the book by Jeffrey M. Shaara. Running time: 220 minutes. Rated PG-13 (for sustained battle sequences).
BY ROGER EBERT
Here is a Civil War movie that Trent Lott might enjoy. Less enlightened than "Gone With the Wind," obsessed with military strategy, impartial between South and North, religiously devout, it waits 70 minutes before introducing the first of its two speaking roles for African Americans; "Stonewall" Jackson assures his black cook that the South will free him, and the cook looks cautiously optimistic. If World War II were handled this way, there'd be hell to pay.
The movie is essentially about brave men on both sides who fought and died so that ... well, so that they could fight and die. They are led by generals of blinding brilliance and nobility, although one Northern general makes a stupid error and the movie shows hundreds of his men being slaughtered at great length as the result of it.
The Northerners, one Southerner explains, are mostly Republican profiteers who can go home to their businesses and families if they're voted out of office after the conflict, while the Southerners are fighting for their homes. Slavery is not the issue, in this view, because it would have withered away anyway, although a liberal professor from Maine (Jeff Daniels) makes a speech explaining it is wrong. So we get that cleared up right there, or for sure at Strom Thurmond's birthday party.
The conflict is handled with solemnity worthy of a memorial service. The music, when it is not funereal, sounds like the band playing during the commencement exercises at a sad university. Countless extras line up, march forward and shoot at each other. They die like flies. That part is accurate, although the stench, the blood and the cries of pain are tastefully held to the PG-13 standard. What we know about the war from the photographs of Mathew Brady, the poems of Walt Whitman and the documentaries of Ken Burns is not duplicated here.
Oh, it is a competently made film. Civil War buffs may love it. Every group of fighting men is identified by subtitles, to such a degree that I wondered, fleetingly, if they were being played by Civil War Re-enactment hobbyists who would want to nudge their friends when their group appeared on the screen. Much is made of the film's total and obsessive historical accuracy; the costumes, flags, battle plans and ordnance are all doubtless flawless, although there could have been no Sgt. "Buster" Kilrain in the 20th Maine, for the unavoidable reason that "Buster" was never used as a name until Buster Keaton used it.
The actors do what they can, although you can sense them winding up to deliver pithy quotations. Robert Duvall, playing Gen. Robert E. Lee, learns of Jackson's battlefield amputation and reflects sadly, "He has lost his left arm, and I have lost my right." His eyes almost twinkle as he envisions that one ending up in Bartlett's. Stephen Lang, playing Jackson, has a deathbed scene so wordy, as he issues commands to imaginary subordinates and then prepares himself to cross over the river, that he seems to be stalling. Except for Lee, a nonbeliever, both sides trust in God, just like at the Super Bowl.
Donzaleigh Abernathy plays the other African-American speaking role, that of a maid named Martha who attempts to jump the gun on Reconstruction by staying behind when her white employers evacuate and telling the arriving Union troops it is her own house. Later, when they commandeer it as a hospital, she looks a little resentful. This episode, like many others, is kept so resolutely at the cameo level that we realize material of such scope and breadth can be shoehorned into 3-1/2 hours only by sacrificing depth.
"Gods and Generals" is the kind of movie beloved by people who never go to the movies, because they are primarily interested in something else--the Civil War, for example--and think historical accuracy is a virtue instead of an attribute. The film plays like a special issue of American Heritage. Ted Turner is one of its prime movers and gives himself an instantly recognizable cameo appearance. Since sneak previews must already have informed him that his sudden appearance draws a laugh, apparently he can live with that.
Note: The same director, Ron Maxwell, made the much superior "Gettysburg" (1993), and at the end informs us that the third title in the trilogy will be "The Last Full Measure." Another line from the same source may serve as a warning: "The world will little note, nor long remember, what we say here."
Copyright © Chicago Sun-Times Inc.
Is that supposed to have a negative connotation??? Ebert, I nevery knew you were part of the Streisand/Julie Roberts/Ed Asner crowd. I guess you are.
"Less enlightened than "Gone With the Wind,"
Gone With the Wind was an American Classic Novel based on the civil war. Brighter people than you have lauded it.
"obsessed with military strategy,"
HUH??? This is a civil war novel based on the characters and battles of the war. Read the book, Idiot.
"impartial between South and North,"
SO??? You expect movies with Southerners all portrayed like Simon LeGrees and Northerners like saving Christians?? It wasn't that way, boy.
"religiously devout,"
Again, what's wrong with this??? You find religiously devout characters repellent?? I guess you never about Civil War figures - Northern OR Southern.
"it waits 70 minutes before introducing the first of its two speaking roles for African Americans;"
?????? You are a moron, Ebert. This is a movie about the main military characters in the Civil War, so why on earth should they have any dialogue including blacks at all??
"Stonewall" Jackson assures his black cook that the South will free him, and the cook looks cautiously optimistic."
Hmmmmm A little literary license. Jackson did start up a scholl to teach the children of black slaves to read and write, so he was hardly a Simon LeGree.
"If World War II were handled this way, there'd be hell to pay."
??????
I'd hardly characterize Southerners as Nazis anyway, would YOU??
"Gods and Generals" is the kind of movie beloved by people who never go to the movies, because they are primarily interested in something else--the Civil War, for example--and think historical accuracy is a virtue instead of an attribute."
So what's wrong with historical accuracy in a historical movie?? Should we have politically correct revisionism?? Your comment about this movie appealing to people who don't usualy go to movies says loads. Considering the kind of mindless bull that is in MOST Hollyweird Movies, such an audience must be composed of individuals of higher intellect than normal movie audiences.
"The same director, Ron Maxwell, made the much superior "Gettysburg" (1993), .."
Was that the movie wiuth that left-wing dirtball Martin Sheen disgracing the character of General Lee??
As a Civil War Buff, I will see this moive. Based on your assinine analysis, I'm positive I will enjoy it.
Get another line of work Ebert - like pimping for the liberal left on ABC, CBS or NBC.
This is an outrageous remark. Ebert dares to suggest that the War Between The States was fought in vain? On both sides? I think Ebert needs to read a little bit of history before he commits his ignorance to print.
BTW, no mention of Senator Robert Byrd's cameo. Reckon why?
If this had been a movie about a bunch of Muslims, he would be lauding the "religiously devout" aspect of the movie.
AMEN!
My rule of thumb, which is nearly always a pretty accurate measure, is that if Ebert dislikes a movie it has a very good chance of being outstanding. And if he likes a moview, it's likely chock full of weird sexual situations (he's a pervert through and through -- he loved Kubrick's "Eyes Wide Shut") and/or commie/pinko/nihilist messages.
Ebert isn't worth the chair his fat ass is always sitting on.
?
Lee was Christian.
?!?! I have an Uncle Buster and the name goes way back. Ebert got this wrong.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.