Saints and Soldiers
by Ryan Little
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Alexander Polinsky, Corbin Allred, Kirby Heyborne, Larry Bagby, Peter HoldenDirector: Ryan Little
Brand: AEC One Stop Group, Inc.
Producer: Adam Abel
Producer: Brian Brough
Producer: Charles Chan
Producer: Fenton Quinn
Producer: Lawrence Bagby
Writer: Geoffrey Panos
Writer: Matt Whitaker
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language); German (Original Language)
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.85:1
Running Time: 90 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2005-05-31
Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Excel Entertainment Group
Movie Reviews of Saints and Soldiers
Movie Review: What Saving Private Ryan could have been...
Summary: 5 Stars
First off, this movie is not perfect, but it is close and has a lasting message that will stick with you long after the closing credits. Considering it was filmed in Utah for under $1Million it deserves even more credit. As mentioned, many of the extras are reenactors donating their time. In addition, many of the weapons, equipment, the german halftrack and the american P-51 that flies over in the end were donations. I think that many, actors, reenactors, advisors, etc. felt that they were working on something beyond just your average movie, and their efforts help add even more impact to the film.
The plot is simple and as stated in other reviews it centers on 4 American soldiers (survivers of the Malmady massacre) becoming stranded behind enemy lines and then crossing paths with a downed RAF Flight Seargant who has intelligence he must get to the Allies as soon as possible. But this is not the real focus of the film. Throughout the 90 minute film the viewer is invited to become ever more famiiar with these GI's and to sympathize with their plight (and the plight of all soldiers) and the moral/human dilemas that evolve out of this type of conflict. The intimacy of this film is carried much further than Saving Private Ryan was able to portray and instead of stagnating and spiralling down into the mess that was the end of Saving Private Ryan this film only continues to build through its completion. Ultimately, beneath the grit and loss, something else trancends from this film in the power of humanity illustrated with the final price paid by "Deacon" and Gould's salvation.
Now, this is not a film without problems, but honestly, none is. I found the attention to detail in this film surprising. The military advisors did a superb job of making the film look and feel authentic (although everyone was too clean and pressed looking, but considering the majority of the costumes were most likely collectors peieces I can understand this). I didn't find any glaring problems with the weapons or equipment, which is something you usually find a lot in the bid budget productions that share their props from movie to movie. The music score was amazing, as was the sound effects, which is surprising for a film of this budget. In addition, the camera work is superb save for a few moments when the lighting looked a bit askew.
The actors were great - yes, some moments were too heavy on the "cheesy" dialogue and the dialogue itself was predictable, but given that this was filmed over a month I will forgive a few hiccups. In addition, I didn't ever think that any actor had been cast incorrectly or that their role could have been done better by someone else - this is not something even big budget films can always boast. The key player is Deacon who is acted superbly. The writers chose to keep his exact denomination a secret which allows the viewer to substitute whatever denomination fits into their circumstances, something I really appreciated. In addition, while Deacon's religious views are paramount they don't waver or create a struggle for him, instead they are his strength. He is able to maintain his faith throughout while being a great soldier and he is a central force for the group because of it, even while suffering from his own demons for what he views as his mistake. Gould, who is Deacon's oppositte in some respects, is also acted superbly, and all the while you can see that there is more to his character than what he shows you initially, so his transformation in the latter stages of the movie is fluid and not as heavily out of place or dramatized as what we are used to seeing. Kendrick and Gunderson are both strong characters and fill their respective niches. Winley (the RAF Seargant) is a sore point for some, but I really liked what the actor portrayed (seeing as how he isn't even British) but I felt that the friendship between he and Kendrick wasn't given enough screen time in the end to have its full impact upon the story. The German soldier "Rudi" was acted fairly, but not as strongly as the central five.
Ultimately, the only thing about the film that ever truly bothered me was the lack of consitancy between scenes - as if firing upon a German patrol then hiding in the trees for a few minutes would cause the patrol to forget all about you, or when they are being chased by the Germans through a village and then suddenly they are no longer being chased even though it would be easy enough to follow their slow and bloody progress in the snow. Again, given what the director had to overcome to put this film together in a month I will forgive this, because, ultimately, the film works and works well.
I highly recommend this film. It is not action heavy or immediatley entertaining, but a developing emotional story that rewards the faithful viewer with something that stays with you longer than just the usual two hour blockbuster. The action isn't muted, so it isn't immediately recommended to the young or squeamish, but given what else is in the theaters anymore this movie is actually quite safe for a mature person. I think everyone should see it once.
Summary of Saints and Soldiers
Based on actual WW II events, this is a dramatic story of a small band of Allied Soldiers trapped behind enemy lines with information that could save thousands of American lives. Outgunned and ill-equipped, they must battle the frigid wilderness and roving German troops to smuggle critical intelligence back to Allied territory. Won 14 Best Picture Awards at film festivals nationwide making it one of the most acclaimed films of 2004. Format: 1 disc, DVDPublisher: Ignatius PressISBN: 725906474396Similar DVD Movies
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