Movie Review

Flags of Our Fathers

Flags of Our Fathers is the latest from Clint Eastwood and almost works as a battlefield war picture, but too much screen time is spent on sentimental recollections. Scenes in the battlefield should remind moviegoers of Saving Private Ryan ? which is where the film shines ? but there?s no character development. Clint Eastwood has done a really good job at making the film look nice with the cinematography, but every scene off the battlefield has a hollow ring to it; there?s just nothing particularly interesting about any of these guys.

At two hours and ten minutes, Flags is a strain even though it works in spurts; when it?s down, it turns into a corny, melodramatic affair even though it?s not as sappy as the ads suggest. And for its genre, it doesn?t have anything new to say about the characters? experiences. The film has a very simple-minded and patriotic feel-good view like Oliver Stone?s World Trade Center (C); it speaks down to the viewer and never reaches deeper into the material. Eastwood's older, less-jaded fans will probably take a liking in this, but its point of view is just a little too safe and mundane for me.

The biggest problem behind Flags of Our Fathers is that it?s just not demanding or challenging. As a Clint Eastwood picture, it doesn?t have a powerful story behind it like he achieved in Mystic River (B) and Million Dollar Baby (B) ? and doesn?t come close to Saving Private Ryan (B+) or The Thin Red Line (B) in terms of characterization and suspense. Eastwood?s direction keeps the film from being inferior, but its breezy story (and long running time) almost makes the film sink to that level. Flags of Our Fathers is watchable but it is an insignificant and unmemorable piece in its genre.

Lee's Grade: C+
Ranked #67 of 177 between The Good German (#66) and V for Vendetta (#68) for 2006 movies.

A	0.4%
B	30.0%
C	61.7%
D	8.0%
F	0.0%