1969 (1989)

55% of critics liked it
(11 reviews)
44% of users liked it
(3,451 ratings)

Ernest Thompson, the playwright responsible for the Pulitzer Prize winning On Golden Pond, makes his directorial debut with 1969. Kiefer Sutherland plays a draft-age youth who undergoes an epiphany when one of his friends is killed in Vietnam. Sutherland's subsequent antiwar stance causes a great… More Ernest Thompson, the playwright responsible for the Pulitzer Prize winning On Golden Pond, makes his directorial debut with 1969. Kiefer Sutherland plays a draft-age youth who undergoes an epiphany when one of his friends is killed in Vietnam. Sutherland's subsequent antiwar stance causes a great deal of tension within his own family, though his mother, Mariette Hartley, tries her best to understand. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 36 min.
Directed By: Ernest Thompson
Genres: Drama

In Theaters: Jan 27, 1988 Wide
On DVD: Apr 16, 2002
Studio: Media Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
Surprisingly engaging drama with a few great performances.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Melvin W

Scott: If you flunk out and die in Vietnam, that's the end of our friendship, fuck you, you know. "The year a country split apart and a generation came together." 1969 is a Vietnam film that focuses on what was going on in America as opposed to what was actually… More
Scott: If you flunk out and die in Vietnam, that's the end of our friendship, fuck you, you know. "The year a country split apart and a generation came together." 1969 is a Vietnam film that focuses on what was going on in America as opposed to what was actually taking place in the war. It deals with two college students and friends who are against the war and want to avoid being drafted at all cost. That's why they went to college. The movie also deals with their families and how the war affected family and their community. The movie really isn't good at all. It takes every little chance it gets to pour as much melodrama on us as possible. Bruce Dern is horrible and Winona Ryder is awful(and I normally like her). Robert Downey Jr and Keifer Sutherland are decent, but they both have sone way better work since. I like the story, but the movie seems to be lacking in every other category. The dialogue between the characters is horrible. A best thing about the movie is it's soundtrack. Bands such as Cream, Jimi Hendrix and Buffalo Springfield are included in it; helping make the 60's setting a little better. While I can't really say I liked 1969; I can't say not to watch it either. It's not a completely worthless movie; just one that never becomes as good as it could have. It does have 2 or 3 scenes I really loved, but other than those few scenes, every other one felt like it was missing something. I'd only recommend this to huge fans of Keirfer or Robert. If you're not a huge fan of either of them; it's really not worth the time.
AJ V

Another 80s movie that looked back at the 60s. This one has a great cast, a pretty good late 60s feel, and a realistic story. I liked it.
Anthony L

Looking back at 1969 it is a little melodramatic but I did really enjoy it when it came out in the late 80's. Robert Downey Jr and Kiefer Sutherland work off each quite well, I'm not sure why they haven't collaborated since (or have they?). It's definitely worth… More
Looking back at 1969 it is a little melodramatic but I did really enjoy it when it came out in the late 80's. Robert Downey Jr and Kiefer Sutherland work off each quite well, I'm not sure why they haven't collaborated since (or have they?). It's definitely worth checking out anyway, a very different war film, focusing more on the battles back home during wartime.
Conner R

This shows a different side to the Vietnam war than we usually see. It takes the viewpoint of best friends evading the draft by going to college. It shows a lot of the protests and anti-war feelings, even within the family of a soldier. Kiefer Sutherland and RDJ throw out some truly… More
This shows a different side to the Vietnam war than we usually see. It takes the viewpoint of best friends evading the draft by going to college. It shows a lot of the protests and anti-war feelings, even within the family of a soldier. Kiefer Sutherland and RDJ throw out some truly solid performances and provide very different characters. They're not just filling in a running time, but trying to show that there was just as much going on stateside during the war.
Jason R

Two buddies from a small town in Maryland witness first hand the turbulence of the 60's as the war hits home for both kids. While eveyone in their sleepy town is oblivious, the two young men begin experimenting with drugs, growing their hair long, and protesting America's… More
Two buddies from a small town in Maryland witness first hand the turbulence of the 60's as the war hits home for both kids. While eveyone in their sleepy town is oblivious, the two young men begin experimenting with drugs, growing their hair long, and protesting America's involvement in Vietnam. Much to the dismay of their parents. But a series of events will turn everything upside down and shake the town and this two families apart. A very young Robert Downey, Jr. and Keifer Sutherland are phenomenal and gives us that glimpse of what we would later see in their long and great acting careers.
Leo L

Great movie!