| | | | Casualties Of War
(1989) |
s a focal point for a series of films in the 80s, the acclaimed projects of Oliver Stone and Stanley Kubrick's dark take, "Full Metal Jacket" became the standard to which the Vietnam movie could be measured.
Uncommon ground then for Brian De Palma, who's film "Casualties of War" has a strangely affecting angle on the wars everlasting effects.
Riding a brutally moralistic wave, emotionally charged and unforgettably gruesome it centres around a young soldiers true account of rape, dishonour and patriarchal breakdown in the jungles of South East Asia.
The story is told in flashback, a youthful but veteran GI Ericsson (Fox) back from his services takes his seat on a bus, noticing an Asian girl board he is reminded of the pain of his experiences during his brief tour.
Going back we see an infantryman who's initiation into combat sees him come into a platoon of relative veterans led by an overbearing young Sergeant (Meserve) played with adrenalised vigour by Penn. As they are about to embark on a routine patrol he remarks that they are to search for and kidnap a VC woman, to render her helpless in their company for fortuitous rape, a decision that seems to have escalated as R & R is deemed off limits the previous night, a frustrated Penn vents his anger on a remote village, their nocturnal invasion is both harrowing and powerful as a piece of (in)humane drama.
What takes place from here on in is not so much about the act of rape itself but the stifling pressurised atmosphere of the group dynamic. The individuals are invited to join in, pressured by intimidatory tactics. Leguizamos' Diaz seems unsure... but soon buckles under the motions of his officer in charge. Only Ericsson refuses, hence detaching himself as an outcast. Representing civilised human emotions, his character can be related to and so becomes the films conscience.
The tension is played out in a located remote shack. Meserve directs his troops disregard of the enemy, installing enough hate he conquers their mindset until their actions are passable as retaliation to war itself. Ericsson is accused of sympathising with the enemy, unable to alter events he witnesses, depravation carried out as tragic overtones of horror brought to our attention via Morricone's searing soundtrack.
Stationed at this chosen locale, Ericsson is in solitude. As the rain tumbles he is joined as he takes shift in the early hours... by Meserve, who stands as opposite to Gi, a man who's tour has ignited the animal instinct that is the mirror image of the Fox character. He claims his love for the army with the valley of death speech leaving Ericsson's disillusionment seen in close up camera, a bravado touch of de Palma's auteur trademark.
When she is deemed dispensable, Penn delegates the weakest of the men to execute the girl, eventually she is killed by the group in a violent and truly distressing set piece, leaving her body crumpled at the foot of a hill.
Back at Base Camp, Fox confides in a friend, seeking advice from Ving Rhames sergeant, who realises the tragedy but indicates that it's best left alone and what happens out in the field should remain there. Captain Dale Dye similarly recognises the danger of bringing this to attention of higher officers, acknowledging the man's situation of family and children he exposes the risk of pursuing the matter.
With news spreading of the incident Ericsson becomes increasingly nervous at the base and in a scene where he narrowly escapes death at the hands of his comrades in the field we see the De Palma steadicam and point of view style, based on an alternate Hitchcock trend and a personal touch by this modern master of suspense a la Carrie, and Blow Out.
Fortifying his belief that this event must come out... The court marshalling begins. After sentencing Penn passes Ericsson and spits in his face awakening the man from his sleep. He watches as the figure steps off the bus, a nightmarish past comes to realisation as the final scenes have summed up the actual punishment that befell the participants, the girl disappears amidst the greens of campus and the Fox character like his platoon has also become a Casualty of War, living with the pain of memory from an unfortunate time in American History.
 Don't forget that Casualties Of War is now available to order on Widescreen DVD using our special 80s Retro Assistant...
|
| | | | 
A welcome change from the traditional, gung-ho Vietnam movie. Sean Penn gives statutory blistering performance as the psychotic Sergeant. Michael J. Fox proves he can act outside the realms of family / teen cinema and this film definitely sits amongst the better of the extensive genre, that is the Vietnam movie.
|
| | | |  | 
The film is based on Daniel Lang's 1969 New Yorker article, later published as a book.  -Thanks to John Hoff
| |
Maurice Schell was nominated for Best Sound Editing in a Feature Film by Motion Picture Sound Editors Awards (The Golden Reels), 1990.
"Casualties of War" won the 'Peace' catagory from the Political Film Society (USA) in 1990.
Sean Penn later plays another rapist/murderer on death row in "Dead Man Walking" which finally won him over with critics. He played opposite Susan Sarandon. -Thanks to Jennifer Conant
« Click
here to add some Casualties Of War trivia
Rediscover your favorites! If you like
Casualties Of War or 80's Drama / Historic classics, then be sure to
check out this list: ..... Outsiders ..... Elephant Man ..... Rain Man ..... Drugstore Cowboy ..... Stand By Me ..... Wall Street ..... Mask ..... Amadeus ..... Full Metal Jacket ..... Witness ..... Breakfast Club ..... Glory ..... Platoon ..... Scarface ..... Six Weeks ..... Urban Cowboy .....[More]
| | | |
The luscious photography in Causalities of War was by Stephen H. Burum. He was also Director of Photography for the visually impressive "The Outsiders" (1983) & "Rumble Fish" (1983).
The railway "bridge" is actually built against the wall of a gorge and forms part of the "death railway" built by prisoners of war during the japanese occupation of Thailand in WW2.
«
Click
here to add a new Behind-the-Scenes item for Casualties Of War
|  |  |  | | Casualties Of War
Locations |
|
| | |
The film was shot in Kanchanabur (railroad bridge and river scenes) and Phuket in Thailand. San Francisco was also used.
Can you help? Do you know any of the filming locations used for Casualties Of War? [Please send them in]
|  | | | | ![[16:9 -Widescreen Enhanced]](16_9.gif) | ![[5.1 CH SURROUND]](dd5.gif) | Trailer, Featurette, Notes, OutTakes |
| | | | Trailer, Featurette, Notes, OutTakes |
| Our
Comments: Collectors Edition |
|
| | | |
Morricone's soundtrack is haunting, tragic and captures the emotions of it's protagonists superbly.
The prolific Ennio Morricone has scored a multitude of films. His 80's highlights include "Frantic" (1988), "The Untouchables" (1987), "Red Sonja" (1985) and the monumental "Once A Upon A Time In America" (1984). The score was nominated for Best Original Score for a Motion Picture at the Golden Globe Awards in 1990.
«
Click here to add new music trivia for Casualties Of War
Soundtrack Available:
On CD
| | | |
 NEW!
Use our radical Retro Assistant to show you the most accurate information for hard-to-find Casualties Of War products anywhere on the web...
At a glance, you can now see all the Movie
releases, Soundtracks
or Movie
Posters, Scripts and Books ever available with online price comparisons, even if they're
rare, out of print or only available in another country!
Over 3 years in development and covering more than 10,000 of the
best products hand picked by our editors, we think it's the most fun and retro way to celebrate the era --and find what you
want.
It covers Casualties Of War DVD,
VHS,
Blu-ray,
HD-DVD,
Downloads,
Soundtrack
CDs, Movie
Posters, Scripts, Books and more... Why not give
it a try...
The
80's Movies Rewind is proudly a spam-free
non-commercial site, written by movie fans... for movie fans.
If
you enjoy this site, please help to support us and keep us
POP UP & SPAM FREE by ordering your stuff through our services.
As you probably already know, we
are not a corporation, but just 80's fans like you...
| | |
 | | Recent
Additions |
March 3, 2008: Commando USA / UK Blu-ray Coming Soon.
February 28, 2008: Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Soundtrack Update.
Previous
additions
We're always updating and improving, so please and check back with us regularly...
|
| | |
