11/11/06 Flags Of Our Fathers

Flags Of Our Fathers (2006), directed by Clint Eastwood

watched w/ Dad; theater (Sandhills Cinema, Southern Pines, NC)

Being that it is a day of hallowed memory for those who have perished over the years of our country's existence, Veteran's Day, and one that always brings to mind for me personally the service that many in my own family have given through the military. My brother is still currently serving during a time in our world of great conflict, but my father had for my entire childhood served in the U.S. Army with great courage and leadership. I never got to know much of both of my grandfathers' service during World War II, but I have since heard stories and seen pictures of their experiences over there. With those moving memories, I tend to always be a bit inspired by a tale of true heroism in battle as is on display in many war drama motion pictures. My dad is also a big fan of war movies, and this is one that we both had talked about seeing for awhile, and I figured what better way to see it then together back home. Tales of heroism and courage are the key elements to this story, but with a very different and historic spin on them. What we have as the focus of the picture is none other than the content of yet another picture. A still picture in photography that has since seeped deeply into the American psyche as one of tremendous valor, patriotism and hope to the human spirit, and set its place in folklore as one of the most memorable images ever. That image that had engaged a nation and spawned many stories as to its origin is none other than the snapshot of six soldiers planting the American flag high atop Mt. Suribachi of the Japanese island of Iwo Jima during fierce battles of WWII. While many probably believed the photo to be a sign of sure victory, the actual raising of the flag happened early on in the battle more as a rallying cry to the troops who were in need of a morale boost. That fact is one of many myths that are debunked, yet still lovingly honored for its sheer significance, throughout this wonderful movie by esteemed actor/filmmaker Eastwood. What is most compelling about this film, is the honesty for which it portrays these national heroes who would return to the States after the taking of the photo in order to re-establish the American spirit and bring relevance to the issues of war back to the homeland far away. Even the taking of the now famous Pulitzer-Prize-winning photo was by chance, as an original smaller flag had already been placed in the same spot, with the hopes of a much larger and more noticeable symbol supplanting it by six unknown soldiers (5 Marines and one Navy Corpsman). That second raising was captured on film, and thus thrust into the international spotlight as a symbolic gesture, taken on by ordinary means. The six men would forever be linked together by one image, as three of the brave men would soon perish in the War...leaving the surviving members of the group to return home safe & sound and try to rationalize their role in being honored by the public. That had to be something that is so overwhelmingly difficult to do, and this film tries its best to follow the three surviving soldiers along that journey through Hell & back. That's another beautiful thing about this movie, not only is it a war movie, but it goes much further than that as it delves into the personal drama of the men and their lives. It is a conflict fought by thousands on battlfield soil, but also fought individually by men within their own souls. The movie is brilliantly captured in spirit by Eastwood, whose ambitious approach to the story will also come out again in 2007 as he has a second adaptation of the same story, yet told from the Japaneses perspective in the title of "Letters From Iwo Jima." Truly remarkable to think of two extraordinary films about the same moment, yet told from two varying points of view. The acting is superb here, and will no doubt cast some familiar Hollywood faces on a truly historic moment, like Ryan Phillippe and Paul Walker. Yet, let us remember the men that they are playing, who are the true veterans and heroes to honor: Sgt. Mike Strank, Pfc. Franklin Sousley, Cpl. Harlon Block, Pfc. Rene Gagnon, Pfc. Ira Hayes, and PhM. 2/c John "Doc" Bradley (www.iwojima.com).

5 out of 5 stars