Ike - Countdown to D-Day
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Movie Reviews of Ike - Countdown to D-Day
Movie Review: Poignant Reality
Summary: 5 Stars
This movie is about as far removed from Spielberg's Saving Private Ryan as were the American men who found the war were removed from their friends and families back home.
Yet, far from moving away from the reality of war, IKE does a better job of acknowledging the realities of war than the unbelievable gore in Saving Private Ryan. Although the latter was true to form with respect to D-Day, the reality of war is that it often involves long stretches of sheer boredom, only briefly interspersed with short moments of sheer terror.
Yes, IKE is a nostalgic movie. But in so doing, it moves us far closer to that time, to what really happened, than does Saving Private Ryan, which, although quite entertaining, was more along the lines of Star Ship Troopers Meets The Third Reich.
IKE faces the reality of war head on. Eisenhower's apparent rank distance from the fighting soldier is expertly reversed by Tom Selleck, who in my opinion has passed Tom Hanks both in terms of depth of character and authenticity - he's just that good. Selleck's way of anknowledging this difference not only diminishes it, but reduces it to rubble. He brings things home in a way Saving Private Ryan never could.
The litmus test here are the tears. Although moved by an aging Ryan's performance at the cemetary, I shed no tears, having been thoroughly numbed by the adrenaline-exhausting blood, guts, and gore throughout Saving Private Ryan. In stark contrast, a simple change of fate followed by the closing scenese began a rush of tears that turned into totally unexpected gut-wrenching sobs, in a mixture of joy and grief for the boys that made it through, for those that didn't, and for their friends and families that were impacted forevermore.
Before I saw this movie, I would have given Saving Private Ryan a score between 4 and 5 stars. IKE, however, has created a new genre of movies which will, I'm sure, soon be emulated, and IKE masterfully raised the bar so high that by contrast, SPR is reduced to, at best, a score of 3 stars.
IKE is just that good.
Movie Review: Ike's Story
Summary: 5 Stars
Tom Selleck is absolutely convincing as General "Ike" Eisenhower, leader of the Allied Expeditionary Force counting down the days to the invasion of Europe in the spring of 1944. This made-for-cable movie has solid production values, authentic period detail, and a cast that recreates the many strong personalities Ike had to manage to pull off the liberation of Europe from the Nazis. British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Field Marshal Montgomery; American Generals Bradley, Patton, and Smith; and French self-appointed savior DeGaulle are authentically captured as contending parties in the final planning for the invasion.
Above all else, the movie portrays the enourmous pressures on Ike to balance the needs of the Allied military forces against challenges of weather, terrain, resources, and politics. The final days of the countdown, as Ike waits for a break in the weather that may never come, and considers the human costs of a botched operation, are incredibly tense.
Among other highlights of the movie: Ike's productive but sometimes trying relationship with Churchill, who understood the realities of the war but was ocassionally swept away by his own enthusiasms. Another is Ike's necessity to discipline an American staff officer who talks out of turn about the invasion and must be sent home in disgrace. Still another is Ike's visit to an American airborne unit on the ever of the invasion.
This short movie is highly recommended to fans of the World War II genre and to fans of Tom Selleck.
Movie Review: 6 Emmy Nominations
Summary: 5 Stars
I didn't see this movie until a year ago when it ran on The History Channel, and was unprepared for its excellence. That it received 6 Emmy nominations offers ample proof of the way Selleck's peers saw his efforts.
I've read quite a bit on Ike from his own writings, to Kay Summersby's writing, to other biographies so I was not unfamiliar with background on either Eisenhower or D-Day. And I've been a fan of Tom Selleck for years not only for his adaptable abilities as an actor, but more down to earth that he is an ex-basketball player for U.S.C.
I was not prepared for how well Tom Selleck blended into the role of Ike, I didn't see Tom Selleck, I saw and heard Dwight Eisenhower. For me this is the role of Tom Selleck's life, just as Sean Connery was made for Bond, and Jeremy Brett for Holmes, Tom Selleck was destined to be Ike. I cannot believe anyone will ever improve on his portrayal of Ike.
So if you want a fairly factual movie on the countdown to D-Day when the lives of millions rested on what one man decided and willed, this is the movie for you.
Without any hesitation, nor reservation, I recommend this DVD.
Semper Fi.
Movie Review: Hallmark of leadership
Summary: 5 Stars
I watch this film every weekend since I got it weeks back. What a leader! Ike was a natural leader, his concern for the young men and woman that would die in battle only shows how a true leader should feel about a decision for war. Tom Selleck does a masterful job and should win an emmy and a golden globe for this. He absolutely digs into the character bring out the fair, hard and emotional parts very well.
The directing is excellent, drawing in close when needed and an excellent combination of music and background to capture the momment. I would recommend an emmy also for the director.
This movie should be shown in any leadership class. The world benefited from two great men being together at the same time, Ike and Churchil. I cannot immagine if Montgomery had been made supreme commander, it would have been a riot house. Ike handled the huge egos of the Generals and the political and media pressure very well.
Ike says something, as he contemplates the decision to attack..."THERE IS NO GLORY IN WAR"...how true, how true...At the end he says "WE WILL NEVER SEE THE KIND OF MEN AND WOMEN WHO DIED EVER AGAIN"
Movie Review: A pleasant surprise!
Summary: 5 Stars
I was shocked at how good this movie is. At first, I scoffed at the idea of Tom Selleck playing Ike. I was totally wrong. He did a fantastic job. The casting for this movie was superb. The acting was also very very good, as was the screenplay. The movie covers the period when Ike is first named "Supreme Commander", in charge of the entire European theater, to the D-Day invasion. The movie starts out with Ike speaking with Winston Churchill. They debate over the idea of having one "supreme commander" calling the shots in Europe. Churchill goes on to say that no one in history has held that much power as he would have, not Alexander, Napoleon or Caesar. It's hard to disagree with that statement. The movie explores the decision making that took place in planning D-Day. You really get a feel for the immense responsibility that Eisenhower had with running the War and keeping the Allies together. Not only did he have war strategy to deal with, he also had to keep egomaniacs, like Monty and Charles de Gaulle, happy. No easy task, to be sure. This is a great movie, don't miss it.