A Midnight Clear (1992)

84% of critics liked it
(25 reviews)
78% of users liked it
(3,298 ratings)

Based on a novel by William Wharton, A Midnight Clear is set in the Adriennes Forest in December of 1944. A group of American GIs, all of whom have been together a bit too long, cling to the vestiges of their peacetime interests to remain sane. None are brilliant soldiers, though Will Knot Ethan… More Based on a novel by William Wharton, A Midnight Clear is set in the Adriennes Forest in December of 1944. A group of American GIs, all of whom have been together a bit too long, cling to the vestiges of their peacetime interests to remain sane. None are brilliant soldiers, though Will Knot Ethan Hawke is the one who exhibits the strongest leadership qualities. Billeted at a chateau, the soldiers begin hearing strange noises emanating from a graveyard, the handiwork of a group of mischievous German soldiers. The two enemy camps draw closer to one another as Christmas approaches, due in great part to the influence of GI Vince "Mother" Wilkins Gary Sinise. A sudden, impulsive hostile act results in the wholesale -- and unnecessary -- slaughter of the German soldiers. Though the exteriors are convincingly mid-European, the film was actually lensed in Utah. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 47 min.
Directed By: Keith Gordon
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure

In Theaters: Apr 24, 1992 Wide
On DVD: Jun 4, 2002
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Vincent Canby, New York Times
In A Midnight Clear, just about everything works.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
...It's a good film, and Gordon is uncanny in the way he suggests the eerie forest mysteries that permeate all of the action.
Hal Hinson, Washington Post
...Gordon shows the kind of filmmaking talent that creates genuine excitement.
Desson Thomson, Washington Post
A Midnight Clear tells a wartime yarn that's quietly, often lyrically, winning.
Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com
It acknowledges war as a fact, but embraces pacifism.
, Film4
This skilful adaptation of William Wharton's novel creates close relationships between each character. Strong performances and precise direction help maintain them to the surprise ending.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
The pristine, snowbound setting gives the film a still, other-worldly quality, and makes for some arresting images, particularly that of a German and an American corpse frozen in a posthumous embrace.
Derek Adams, Time Out
The performances are uniformly excellent as the film moves inexorably towards bloody confrontation and spiritual reckoning.
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com
An all-star cast makes it wholly worthwhile.
Jon Niccum, Lawrence Journal-World
One of the most underrated films of the '90s
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
One of the best war movies you've (probably) never seen.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
Delves into the strain of war on the human spirit and our dependency upon community in the face of senseless death.