The Thin Red Line 1998
The Thin Red Line ★★★ 1998 (R)
After a long hiatus, director Malick returns in this epic WWII saga about a rifle company fighting at Guadalcanal. Visually stunning and focused on the inner thoughts, feelings, and philosophical leanings of the soldiers, the film sacrifices plot and continuity to study the questions of Man vs. Nature and the Origin of Evil. Plot difficulties are highlighted by the physical similarities of relative newcomers Chaplin and Caviezel. Combat scenes are, naturally, beautifully shot and effective, while the relationship between Penn and Caviezel makes the biggest impression among the many subplots (some of which go nowhere) and the star-laden, large cast. Based on the 1962 novel by James Jones. 170m/C VHS, DVD . Kirk Acevedo, Miranda Otto, Nick Stahl, James (Jim) Caviezel, Adrien Brody, Sean Penn, Nick Nolte, John Cusack, George Clooney, Woody Harrelson, Ben Chaplin, Elias Koteas, Jared Leto, John Travolta, Tim Blake Nelson, John C. Reilly, John Savage, Arie Verveen, David Harrod, Thomas Jane, Paul Gleason, Penelope Allen, Don Harvey, Shawn Hatosy, Donal Logue, Dash Mihok, Larry Romano; D: Terrence Malick; W: Terrence Malick; C: John Toll; M: Hans Zimmer. N.Y. Film Critics ‘98: Director (Malick); Natl. Soc. Film Critics ‘98: Cinematog.