Heartbreak Ridge (Snap Case)
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Movie Reviews of Heartbreak Ridge (Snap Case)
Movie Review: Not a word about Lebanon, Oct. 22, 1983!
Summary: 4 Stars
My review of "Heartbreak Ridge" is based on what I saw at the threatre, not the DVD release. "Heartbreak Ridge", (named after a battle that took place during the 1950-1953 Korean War), was first supposed to be set in an Army Unit, but, the Army backed out, (too much foul language), so it has a Marine Corp setting. Clint Eastwood is an older, (but not softer), Marine whose job it is too whip some new soldiers into shape. Since it's been 8 years since the end of the Vietnam war, they don't take it too seriously, but then they have to go into Grenada where the war is real. Clint also has a drinking problem and his wife, portrayed by Marsha Mason, has seen it all. While the film has it's share of memorable scences, many of them based on historical facts; the movie has a huge omission--there is not one word about the bombing of the Marine barracks in Lebanon Oct. 22,1983. For this movie to ignore Lebanon will make it look like a public relations gimmick, instead of the very good film it is. Many people, at the time, said Grenada was an attempt to take the country's mind off of what was happening in the Middle East. The White House said Grenada was in the planning stage long before Oct. 22. The film shows Clint and Marsha at a party the night the bombing occured, (before Clint gets called into action), and that's when they could have brought up the incident. The barracks bombing killed a great many people and the French troops in Lebanon were also attacked with a bomb that same day. Soon after, the Americans, French, and Italians, (who were there as peace keepers), left Lebanon, and the Syrians moved in. I really liked this movie, but, they should have said something about Lebanon. A movie about Americans serving in uniform that doesn't say a word about a great many other Americans serving in uniform being killed, (at the exact same time), is inexuseable. I think this is the only "Hollywood" film about Grenada, although PBS did a documentary on it, and another one about Lebanon.Movie Review: Does his Mama know he's out playing Marine?
Summary: 4 Stars
Spits Gunnery Sgt Tom Highway to his fellow Sgt after his initial meeting with his milketoast Platoon office Lt Ring, on his return to an active Marine unit. There is a fair amount of formula and predictability to the story here, as Eastwood plays the aforementioned Highway, old, battle scarred, wise and more than a little grizzled - charged with whipping a bunch of misfits into an elite recon unit. His senior officer hates him, his ex wife is still bitter, and he's way to close to retirement for his own comfort, but you know he will somehow triumph in the end. It's interesting to note, that shortly after it's release, it was condemned by some in the military for it's portrayal of Marines, chiefly as being top heavy on bad language, so sensitive types be warned. There's plenty of Eastwood style quips to keep most amused alongside a fairly good, if straightforward story, laced with some action along the way. For me, however the power of the film is the subplot that runs in tandem with the main story, about a lifelong military man, coming to terms with the end of his career, and reflecting on a failed marriage, as well as many other life events along the way. Although this is handled "in character" with more than a large dose of macho dialogue, there's a subtle depth to the role, that is often thought provoking, and compliments the rest of the picture very well. One minor complaint would be making the minor skirmish that was the liberation of the island of Grenada into a lavish military operation, which is a bit of a stretch. But considering that (at time of production) this was the only real topical choice for a factual based War, so to speak you can be forgiving. Probably NOT one of Eastwoods best movies by any means, but hugely enjoyable and good for more than a few repeat viewings. Enjoy!Movie Review: "You Improvise, You Adapt, You Overcome, You're Marines"
Summary: 4 Stars
This may not rate as one of Clint's all-time greats, but it still has enough going on to make most Clint Eastwood fans very happy. For me it was a good mix of themes of redemption, reconciliation, coming to terms with retirement, old ways vs. new, duty and perseverance mixed with generous helpings of comedy and classic Clint one-liners.
Coming towards the end of his career as a Marine, Tom Highway finds himself taking on the task of whipping into shape a rather hilariously pathetic collection of new Marine recruits. After numerous attempts to drive him off initially, he perseveres and gets them to a point where they can handle themselves in the Grenada invasion that serves as the movies' backdrop.
Tom also finds himself trying to reconcile and revive the relationship his ex-wife (Marsha Mason), and also trying to come to terms with a military full of young know-it-alls who have no concept of real-world experience (prompting the line "Does his mother know he's out running around playing Army?").
Some of the best comic moments are found in Highway's interactions with "Stitch" Jones (Mario Van Peoples), especially where "Stitch" gets his comeuppance after hustling Highway out of a meal and then leaving him stranded (havng to hitchike the rest of the way to his base).
One caution, the language in this film is pretty brutal, but if you can look past that , you do get a good solid Clint Eastwood outing here. Definitely worth having.
Movie Review: Silly plot. But Clint Eastwood is a special kind of guy.
Summary: 4 Stars
Clint Eastwood directed and starred in this 1986 film, whose theme we've all seen before. He's cast as an aging Marine sergeant whose whole life has been devoted to the military. Along the way he and his wife, played by Marsha Mason, have split up and he's determined to win her back. He's served in Korea and Vietnam and is now charged with the task of training some raw recruits. They sure are the sorriest lot of trainees I've ever seen and they hate him of course. But he forces discipline on them and really does prepare them to fight in spite of themselves. When they are called upon to go to Grenada to rescue civilians, they rise to the occasion and fight with courage. That's the plot, and it's really rather silly. But Clint Eastward is a special kind of guy and somehow he somehow manages to pull it all together. A lot of the dialog is absolutely outrageous in its creative vulgarity but it all seemed natural coming out of his mouth. And its easy to see the loving relationship with his ex-wife in spite of a lot of nasty wisecracks directed to each other. The story moved fast and held my interest even though it annoyed me with some of its overacting and over-simplification. But then again, it's supposed to be a comedy.
I can't recommend you go out and buy or rent this film. It's just too lightweight. But if you ever catch it on late-night TV, you'll find it a pleasant time waster. I therefore give it a mild recommendation.
Movie Review: Does the corps proud, and unproud
Summary: 4 Stars
I was serving in the Marine Corps when this first came out. Many of us used to kick back and jeer at the discrepancies in it. Such as, The bulk of the story takes place at Camp Lejuene N.C. and it was filmed at Camp Pendleton Ca. The terrain at the two bases is radically different. Eastwood's platoon of recon marines is depicted as a ragtag crew of slackers. Marine force reconaissance is an elite ,all volunteer force in league with Army rangers and Navy SEALS. It's doubtful that such an unruly recon platoon has ever existed. On the training exercise when Gunny Highways no nonsense CO challenges him to hand to a hand to fight at the pit, it's another one. Any commissioned officer that would pull a stunt like that, especially in front of the men, would be in front of his own superiors desk in a snap. Of course, the same could be said of a Staff NCO (senior noncom) who man handles his men as Eastwood's Tom Highway does. For the most part, the film clearly had good technical advisement. All the actors when in uniform display near perfect regulations and details such as length of belts,placement of badges and decorations, haircuts etc. The actor playing SgtMaj Choozo has the showman-like speech and manner of a Marine Corps senior enlisted man down pat. All in all, its straight forward story and rousing action make for an enjoyable film for everyone.