Movie Review

In Theaters 'Flags of our Fathers'

By: David Coley

Posted: 10/16/06

Everyone knows the picture of soldiers raising the flag at Iwo Jima.
It was wildly famous in its day and still exists today as a patriotic emblem serving as a reminder of the grit and determination of American soldiers to fight for their country. That same purpose permeates Clint Eastwood's new war epic, "Flags of Our Fathers."
The many plot lines running through the movie all center on that famous photo. On one level it chronicles the battle, a fight between American and Japanese forces on a small volcanic island. It was the first battle on Japanese soil and also one of the bloodiest battles of the war. The story closely follows several young soldiers trying to survive the harrowing 40 days on the island.
Another level of the film covers the soldiers who raised the flag in the picture, mainly the three who were taken back to America when the picture became popular. They are coerced into a fundraising drive for the war, constantly recounting their exploits and trying to convince audiences to buy more war bonds.
They are uncomfortable with being called heroes, especially the famous Ira Hayes (Adam Beach). His role of hero carries an irony with it since the country is still exercising prejudice against Native Americans like him. The film seems to conclude that though the men have been fighting for their country, their primary mission was to fight for their friends - to fight for the men beside them.
The final level, which comes predominantly later in the film, covers author James Bradley as he researches the story of his father, one of the flag raisers, and writes the book which will later be made into this movie.
There's a lot of ground to cover in this film, and, for the most part, Eastwood handles it beautifully. He continues his late career renaissance by being able to provide viewers with the big picture and then turning the focus not only on the soldiers' lives, but on their struggles with their new roles as national heroes.
There are countless extra details in the film that add unexpected levels of reality. Stay during the credits to see real photos of the battle and see just how much of the film was based on what actually happened.
It's a traditional war movie at times, with violent battle scenes that rival those of "Saving Private Ryan," directed by Steven Spielberg, who was also one of the producers of this film. Some of Eastwood's visual trademarks of his last few films are present: harsh lighting, faded colors and unveiled bloodshed.
The truest moments of the movie, however, come in those quieter moments, when the three young soldiers are caught between their personal feelings about war and the increasing attention of the country.
The main weaknesses of the film come near the end, when the third subplot comes into the foreground and the script increasingly delves into sentimentality. However, it is well-done sentimentality and appropriate for the subject matter. Still, it became a bit distracting when accompanied by a looser narrative control than the rest of the film exhibited.
Despite that, it remains a powerful film. There have been many war movies, and the advertising might give the impression that this is a traditional patriotic story, but it digs deeper than that, into the lives of "heroes" and what it means to have to kill some men for the sake of others.
dcoley@unews.com