As The Men Who Stare at Goats demonstrates this week, there’s no right way to represent a war on the big screen. Some filmmakers opt for battlefield realism, while others focus on fascinating personal triumphs. Street’s compiled some of our favorite examples below.
Gulf War (1990-91) In the almost two decades since the Gulf War ended, few directors have been brave enough to undertake a film about the Persian Gulf conflict. Courage Under Fire (1996) — Hollywood’s first attempt — is most notable for dealing with women in combat, as it addresses Capt. Walden’s (Meg Ryan) nomination for the Medal of Honor. The film considers personal issues in addition to dealing with the war, and emphasizes how relationships are affected by war. For a more adventurous approach, Three Kings (1999) is an exhilarating political rant. It combines action and humor while also providing multiple characters’ perspectives on Operation Desert Storm. By contrast, Jarhead (2005) tells one soldier’s story, based on the 2003 memoir by Anthony Swofford. By emphasizing the exhaustion and loneliness involved in serving as a young soldier, the absurdist drama packs an emotional punch, leaving the viewer wondering why we ever send boys to war at all.
Vietnam War (1959-75) Directors have taken many different approaches to the most unpopular war in American history. Good Morning, Vietnam (1987), for example, provides a humorous yet critical take on the war, with Robin Williams as the wisecracking DJ. The Deer Hunter (1978), meanwhile, is an emotionally draining three-hour film investigation into mindless patriotism and the dehumanizing effects of fighting in Vietnam. For those who appreciate sexual metaphors and tales of life as a Marine, Stanley Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket (1987) is a visually stunning masterpiece and a must-see. Finally, viewers who prefer emphasis on a single hero’s experience will most appreciate Coppola's Apocalypse Now (1979) and Oliver Stone’s big hitters, Born on the Fourth of July (1989) and Platoon (1986).
Civil War (1861-65) For the most part, tales of romance don’t accompany the story of the extra-bloody War between North and South. But don’t tell that to Scarlett O’Hara who, in Gone with the Wind (1939), romances Rhett Butler and makes dresses out of drapes, all while the war rages on behind them, tearing their lives apart in every possible way. While this American classic features realistic war scenes alongside its love story, for a more battle-centric take on the war, check out Ronald Maxwell’s Gettysburg (1993) and Gods and Generals (2003), which mostly eschew anecdotes in favor of full-on combat recreation. Combining multiple elements of war drama is 1989’s Glory, which earned an Oscar for Denzel Washington and focuses on the predominantly black Massachusetts 54th Volunteer Infantry.
World War II (1939-45) Like the war itself, the films focusing on World War II vary widely in their content and point-of-view. Some, like Best Picture winner Patton (1970), which chronicles the wartime efforts of the famous general, focus on a notable person. Others, like Terrence Malick’s Thin Red Line (1998), about the Battle of Guadalcanal, choose a particular skirmish. The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957), another Best Picture winner, and The Great Escape (1963) both revolve around POW experiences, albeit in entirely different circumstances and countries (Thailand and Germany, respectively). Nearly every all-star director seems to have covered WWII at some point, including Steven Spielberg with 1998’s Saving Private Ryan and Clint Eastwood, with his companion films about the Battle of Iwo Jima, Flags of Our Fathers and Letters from Iwo Jima.
