10 out of 10
Although not known as a classic in the vein of Saving Private Ryan, Dunkirk or some other fundamental war movie, A Midnight Clear is a formidable, extraordinary film, even if it does not have spectacular landings, fights between planes and the other paraphernalia of classic features of this kind.
Indeed, this stupendous work deals more, if not exclusively, with the psychological horrors of war, the derangement it causes in the minds of people and the impact it has on group of American and German fighters.
It is World War II, near Christmas, in 1944, when the Nazi forces have been pushed back, but there is still much fighting to be done.
The cast is phenomenal:
Peter Berg, Kevin Dillon, Frank Whaley and especially Ethan Hawke as Seargent Will Knott and Gary Sinise in the role of the fragile Vance Wilkins, also called Mother.
This group of young Americans is sent into the forest, to secure and hold on to a house that might be crucial in an upcoming battle.
They are supposed to inform their base on any movements and they do that up to a point.
As soldiers keep guard, they start hearing noises and seem to see movements.
There is even a :
Good night, said in German...I guess
With time, they see indeed that there are Germans in the area, but regardless of the fact that they are scared to death when they first meet each other, nothing happens!
Furthermore, the couple of men that are on duty out in the snow see that they are attacked...
Only with...snowballs!
Gradually, they start communicating with each other and "Father" is able to translate.
The Germans have had enough of the war.
They propose some meetings, which are somewhat awkward for they are understandably suspicious of each other...they had been at a vicious war for long enough to see many dead and worry about a trap or an ambush.
A further complication on the American side is the need to present a superior officer, to confer seriousness, gravitas to negotiations.
For the Germans have decided: they want to stop fighting, surrender...well not to a group of five or seven ordinary soldiers, but in the end it looks like they may pull off this great stunt.
There are some clouds to consider, first one is to avoid the implication of superiors in all this, or at least not until it is all fixed and done.
This we can see is more than sensible, especially when an incredibly pompous, ridiculous, absurd, self absorbed, vicious, malevolent bastard of an officer would show up.
He is more than revolting!
The other major obstacle is "Mother".
Ever since tragedy has struck in his family back at home, this man has lost his grip.
Hence, they do not inform him of the plan to take the Germans prisoners, even if later on they would describe the tragedy that would ensue as the moment when he saved all that could be and he acted as a hero.
His comrades would actually propose that this suffering manger the Medal of Honor or some other prestigious Army decoration.
What happens at the culminating point, in the climax, which is also a nadir of the film in terms of loss of life, will not be mentioned, for reasons of spoiler alert - someone criticized me a few years ago and I try to spoil it as little as I can...when there is no I resistible urge to say all that happens.
Suffice it to say that it is an event that gives great weight to the drama.
A Midnight Clear is adept, insightful, though provoking, superior, excellent, memorable motion picture.
And one of the best on the subject.
Although not known as a classic in the vein of Saving Private Ryan, Dunkirk or some other fundamental war movie, A Midnight Clear is a formidable, extraordinary film, even if it does not have spectacular landings, fights between planes and the other paraphernalia of classic features of this kind.
Indeed, this stupendous work deals more, if not exclusively, with the psychological horrors of war, the derangement it causes in the minds of people and the impact it has on group of American and German fighters.
It is World War II, near Christmas, in 1944, when the Nazi forces have been pushed back, but there is still much fighting to be done.
The cast is phenomenal:
Peter Berg, Kevin Dillon, Frank Whaley and especially Ethan Hawke as Seargent Will Knott and Gary Sinise in the role of the fragile Vance Wilkins, also called Mother.
This group of young Americans is sent into the forest, to secure and hold on to a house that might be crucial in an upcoming battle.
They are supposed to inform their base on any movements and they do that up to a point.
As soldiers keep guard, they start hearing noises and seem to see movements.
There is even a :
Good night, said in German...I guess
With time, they see indeed that there are Germans in the area, but regardless of the fact that they are scared to death when they first meet each other, nothing happens!
Furthermore, the couple of men that are on duty out in the snow see that they are attacked...
Only with...snowballs!
Gradually, they start communicating with each other and "Father" is able to translate.
The Germans have had enough of the war.
They propose some meetings, which are somewhat awkward for they are understandably suspicious of each other...they had been at a vicious war for long enough to see many dead and worry about a trap or an ambush.
A further complication on the American side is the need to present a superior officer, to confer seriousness, gravitas to negotiations.
For the Germans have decided: they want to stop fighting, surrender...well not to a group of five or seven ordinary soldiers, but in the end it looks like they may pull off this great stunt.
There are some clouds to consider, first one is to avoid the implication of superiors in all this, or at least not until it is all fixed and done.
This we can see is more than sensible, especially when an incredibly pompous, ridiculous, absurd, self absorbed, vicious, malevolent bastard of an officer would show up.
He is more than revolting!
The other major obstacle is "Mother".
Ever since tragedy has struck in his family back at home, this man has lost his grip.
Hence, they do not inform him of the plan to take the Germans prisoners, even if later on they would describe the tragedy that would ensue as the moment when he saved all that could be and he acted as a hero.
His comrades would actually propose that this suffering manger the Medal of Honor or some other prestigious Army decoration.
What happens at the culminating point, in the climax, which is also a nadir of the film in terms of loss of life, will not be mentioned, for reasons of spoiler alert - someone criticized me a few years ago and I try to spoil it as little as I can...when there is no I resistible urge to say all that happens.
Suffice it to say that it is an event that gives great weight to the drama.
A Midnight Clear is adept, insightful, though provoking, superior, excellent, memorable motion picture.
And one of the best on the subject.
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