11 June 2010

Hell In the Pacific


United States - 1968
Director - John Boorman
Starring - Lee Marvin and Toshiro Mifune

Probably my favorite Lee Marvin, and one of my favorite Mifune movies as well. Both give awesome performances, but it's difficult to judge a film of this calibre on the acting of two  performers who are basically always great. It's not them as individuals, but rather the atmosphere of the film that makes their interactions that much more potent. Really, it's Boorman's directing that makes this such a great film. Consider also that it came out at the height of the Vietnam War carrying a meassage about the futility and waste of military violence. While similar to Robert Altman's  M*A*S*H* in that respect,  it speaks more explicitly to the fundamental absurdity of nationalist rhetoric, extending it's anti-war message beyond the individual.
Sadly, I don't think any of these posters does justice to Hell In the Pacific.
This poster from Moviegoods


This one from Classic War Movies.


This one from Posteritati

This French poster and the one at the top are from Trash Can Dance

2 comments:

Phill Tuma said...

Keep going man! This will all pay off, I can see it now.

The Goodkind said...

Thanks man, thanks. Encouragement helps the art as you know. Work it, make it, do it, art.