Clemens' pick of War Movies ... and maybe a few others

I didn't like all of that last list. So with a bit of consultation with Carmen, here are my picks that should have been included. At least, off the top of my head. They are in no particular order.

No Man's Land, 2001. As far as I know, the only Bosnian film ever released in America. During the three way civil war that destroyed Bosnia, a Bozniak soldier and a Serb soldier get stuck in the middle of no man's land, shot at by both sides. Call in the UN troops - which accomplishes absolutely nothing. By turns hilarious and horrifying, I don't think American audiences knew what to make of it - or cared. But you should.

Grand Illusion, 1937. A classic by Jean Renoir. Since it is a classic a lot of blather has been written about this one. Just go see it.

Cross of Iron, 1979. Not a 'great' movie by any stretch, it tells of the Eastern Front of WWII from the POV of some very disaffected German soldiers - their leader played by James Coburn. Since it is a Sam Peckinpah movie you know the battle scenes are .. uh... 'gritty?' One unexpected plus: actually uses Russian T-34 tanks to portray Russian T-34 tanks (sorry - you have to be a tank nut to appreciate that). Not everybody liked this movie!

Enemy at the Gates, 2001. Starring Ed Harris and that handsome guy, it is about the battle of Stalingrad, or rather a brief duel between two snipers during the battle. Not a great movie, partly because it follows a romantic arc typical of American movies, but the first fifteen minutes or so will show an American audience something of what the Soviets went through to destroy the German army. Bob Hoskins is great as Nikita Khruschev. It and Cross of Iron give a glimpse of the war from a different perspective.

The Battle of Algiers, 1964. Directed by Gillo Pontecorvo this is a classic about urban warfare. In fact, I should have known we'd be in trouble when I read that the Pentagon was showing it to their officers before duty in Iraq. Brilliantly shot in 'news reel' black and white, filmed in the actual houses and neighborhood in which the battle took place, and starring locals hand picked by Pontecorvo, including at least one of the Algerian FLN commanders playing himself, this movie is almost like watching a documentary. It is even handed in showing how nasty both sides could be - Pontecorvo, a veteran of the Italian Communist resistance against the Germans insisted on this. At one point he even shows a trio of young FLN women fanning out across the city to set off bombs, some of which they know will kill women and children. The film is unflinching in showing how the French commander of paratroopers breaks the revolt - he gives orders for wholesale torture. And the French win the battle, but lose the war. Added bonus: one of the best film scores Ennio Morricone ever did.

The Blue Max Again, not a great movie, but it contains the best aerial photography of WWI dogfights I have ever seen. And these are not computer generated fakes - they are the actual flying machines. Good film score by Jerry Goldsmith too. But it is strictly for flying machine nuts.

Judgment at Nuremberg, 1961. In some ways dated, and strictly speaking is not a war film, but rather a movie dealing with the aftermath of war. Americans are probably getting a little queasy about war crime trials right now, so that may give it extra salience.


That's it for the bloody 20th - next time, historical war films!