Flags of our Fathers (2006)

 One of these days I suppose that Martin Scorsese will get the Oscar that everyone thinks he deserves, but I really now believe that Clint Eastwood is the greater director with the more interesting body of work.  I attended a preview of the above film today and the audience seemed so moved by its brilliance that virtually no one stood up or tried to walk out during the end credits; that is unusual nowadays.  I've written previously that war movies are my least favourite film genre, but Eastwood has created a war movie here with no false heroics and no attempts at personal glory.  The fighting men portrayed are doing the best they can, not just for their country but for each other in their attempt to survive.

The story is inspired by the famous photograph of six men raising the American flag during the battle for Iwo Jima.  The top brass decide to use the three survivors as patriotic propaganda tools to raise cash for the war effort in Stateside bond drives.  The first man is a vain opportunist who saw virtually no action and who is certainly no hero.  The second is a sailor played by Ryan Phillippe with surprising maturity, leaving far behind his usual lightweight persona.  The third is a Puma Indian called Ira Hayes, brilliantly played by Native America actor Adam Beach, who hates being used and who wants to return to the Front.  One has seen Ira Hayes' tragic story before in the 1961 movie "The Outsider" where the role was taken, believe it or not, by Tony Curtis -- but fair dos, he did a super job.  I have no idea if Beach will get an Oscar nod for his performance, but goodness knows his moving turn deserves one.

Eastwood films the battle scenes in muted colours which adds to the realistic feel of the true horrors of war.  Even when the three heroes are getting folk to buy bonds at fancy receptions, their memories keep returning to the grim battlefield and the true heroes who have fallen there.  Eastwood has also composed the moving musical score for this film; talk about Renaissance Men!  Finally, he has finished a companion piece for this film called "Letters from Iwo Jima" which will not be released here until Febrary but which is already winning kudos in the States.  That picture will tell the Iwo Jima story from the Japanese point of view; I can't see Scorsese doing something so strikingly original.