The Thin Red Line poster & wallpaper

Sean Penn, Adrien Brody, Nick Nolte

One of the cinema's great disappearing acts came to a close with the release of The Thin Red Line in late 1998. Terrence Malick, the cryptic recluse who withdrew from Hollywood visibility after...( read more  read more... ) the release of his visually enthralling masterpiece Days of Heaven (1978), returned to the director's chair after a 20-year coffee break. Malick's comeback vehicle is a fascinating choice: a wide-ranging adaptation of a World War II novel (filmed once before, in 1964) by James Jones. The battle for Guadalcanal Island gives Malick an opportunity to explore nothing less than the nature of life, death, God, and courage. Let that be a warning to anyone expecting a conventional war flick; Malick proves himself quite capable of mounting an exciting action sequence, but he's just as likely to meander into pure philosophical noodling--or simply let the camera contemplate the first steps of a newly birthed tropical bird, the sinister skulk of a crocodile. This is not especially an actors' movie--some faces go by so quickly they barely register--but the standouts are bold: Nick Nolte as a career-minded colonel, Elias Koteas as a deeply spiritual captain who tries to protect his men, Ben Chaplin as a G.I. haunted by lyrical memories of his wife. The backbone of the film is the ongoing discussion between a wry sergeant (Sean Penn) and an ethereal, almost holy private (newcomer Jim Caviezel). The picture's sprawl may be a result of Malick's method of "finding" a film during shooting and editing, and in some ways The Thin Red Line seems vaguely, intriguingly incomplete. Yet it casts a spell like almost nothing else of its time, and Malick's visionary images are a challenge and a signpost to the rest of his filmmaking generation. --Robert Horton

Some other actors that should be listed but cannot because of lack of room in our database: Dash Mihok,Adrien Brody,Paul Gleeson,Thomas Jane,John Dee Smith,and Will Wallace.

Flixster Users

75% liked it

124,338 ratings

Critics

78% liked it

78 critics

R, 2 hrs. 26 min.

Directed by: Terrence Malick

Release Date: January 15, 1999

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DVD Release Date: November 2, 1999

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Stats: 5,088 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (5,088)

  • SirPant
    September 24, 2009
    SirPant
    The long awaited return of Terrence Malick and it was well worth the wait! This is an excellent war film!
  • columbiatch
    August 18, 2009
    columbiatch
    I think this may be better shot than The New World (Malick sure loves his underwater shots). The technical aspects are quite impressive, featuring some great handheld and tracking shots. Unlike DoH or tNW there's a ton of characters all sharing a similar narration pondering the n...( read more)ature of things, which sounds too vague and cheesy most of the time, as if they were uttered by the Christ figure played by Caviezel. While there is an attempt to give a face to the Japanese side of the war, it would have been more consistent with the film's goals if there is actually a character from that side as in Pocahontas in tNW.
  • MovieGeek13
    March 19, 2009
    MovieGeek13
    After a 20 year absence, I don't think Terrence Mallick could ever have lived up to the hype surrounding this film, but even still, I expected better. It's a good film, no doubt, and it has some interesting things to say about how the psychologically destructive effects of war, ...( read more)but it's not in the league of Saving Private Ryan.
  • danperry17
    January 22, 2009
    danperry17
    A grimly beautiful and unconventional war film that, though it features some great acting from a lot of big stars, doesn't really feature anyone long enough for you to get attached to them. I'm not really a Nick Nolte fan, but he was very good in this one, and I thought that Adri...( read more)en Brody was excellent as well (despite having most of his scenes cut from the movie before its release). Elias Koteas too.

    The movie's best and worst feature is that it's incredibly artisitc: best because it is an unorthodox way to tell a war story (framed by the inner monologues of nearly all characters and overcoming seemingly interminable silences), and worst because this narration-heavy, long interlude approach slipped too often into melodrama and lulls that didn't help the story along at all. I'm all for the artsy film, but this was just unnecessarily long.

    A middling script (or maybe a brilliant one, but I shouldn't have to watch a movie over and over to be sure) is saved by the acting and great effects, and the men in the film are very real... in the end, thoguh, I just couldn't empathize with any of them. Perhaps this is the most realistic way to tell a war story, but it's not so audience-friendly.

    All in all, it was a bit of a let down considering all the hype it received this time of year a decade ago.
  • mrpopcorn
    December 3, 2008
    mrpopcorn
    "Every man fights his own war."

    James Caviezel stars as Private Witt, a deserter living in peace and harmony with the natives of a Pacific island paradise. Captured by the Navy, Witt is debriefed by a senior officer (Sean Penn) and returned to an active duty unit prepa...( read more)ring for what will be the Battle of Guadalcanal. As Witt goes ashore in the company of his fellow soldiers, they meet diverse fates. Sergeant Keck (Woody Harrelson) is killed by an exploding grenade. Captain John Gaff (John Cusack) is an intelligent, sober leader facing the destruction of his command because his commanding officer Colonel Tall (Nick Nolte) is bucking for a general's star. Sergeant McCron (John Savage) loses his mind. Private Bell (Ben Chaplin) gets a "Dear John" letter from his beloved wife. However, as the U.S. troops advance up grassy slopes toward entrenched Japanese positions, it is Witt's voiced-over ruminations on life, death, and nature that are the real heart and soul of The Thin Red Line (1998).

    Review
    There are many aspect that make up a great war film. It is not enough to simply sit an audience down in a cinema and blast them with shells and death. War has never been black and white, you must alway strive to show the human aspects of war. The way in which it affects the solders and the villagers involved. " The Thin Red Line " captures all aspects perfectly, showing you the personalities of all the cast and delving into the mental aspects of both the front line troops and the commanders safely unfolding the battle from a distance. If you want to see war as it truly is then this is a film you want to see.
  • PatienceSmatience
    November 20, 2009
    PatienceSmatience
    There's about 5 billion different war films on each war and believe me, this one doesn't stand out as special to me. However, it still stands its ground as at least "pretty good." It's definately worth giving a look. You don't see all of the actors very often, but this film featu...( read more)res a great cast.
  • EdwardGump
    November 18, 2009
    EdwardGump
    the thin red line is an old histrocale movie that must be seen for it is very enjoyable
  • kurosawian
    November 15, 2009
    kurosawian
    A Zen masterpiece on war. Malik has returned with such profound perspective and insight. The viewer gets three movies in one. First, it's a riveting story with elements of suspense and intense action revolving around "seizing a bunker." Second, there's such a collection of strong...( read more) actors and characters that linger with you long after the film is over. The unconventional narration helps identify emotionally with each soldier. Third, Malick takes us on an odyssey for the ages that is both meditative, spiritual and aesthetically beautiful. From man to nature to animals, we are constantly reminded of beauty and horror co-existing. After my fifth viewing, the film still feels fresher that most everything else in recent memory. Ultimately, this is a strong contender for the greatest war film ever made.
  • odonoghuematthew
    November 13, 2009
    odonoghuematthew
    Best Cinematography 1999 - Best Score 1999
  • CptFG
    November 9, 2009
    CptFG
    A cinematic masterpiece that dives deep into the dehumanizing effects war has on soldiers. The film is stunningly beautiful; with a cinematic and documentary feel. Terrence Malick and cinematographer John Toll see beauty in every thing around them. One thing is for sure, this is ...( read more)one of the finest films you will ever see.

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Critic Reviews

January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Fascinating! full review

View more The Thin Red Line reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments

  • MikeHarrigan23
    March 4, 2009
    MikeHarrigan23
    The 6 hour version is screaming to be released to its fans. C'mon Terrence, if not you, then get Criterion on the case!

  • roryphelan90
    February 27, 2009
    roryphelan90
    its one to be appreciated on repeated viewing.
  • carla223
    November 12, 2008
    carla223
    Yawn.
  • lotranji
    May 7, 2007
    lotranji
    i love this movie because it isnt really about how graphic the filmakers can make it or how many special effects can we throw in its more about the soldiers and their perspectives which i love.
  • hallmelissa
    May 17, 2006
    hallmelissa
    I agree with you Eugene. I was very impressed with this movie, even though i don't really like war movies. This one i didn't mind at all.
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The Thin Red Line Trivia

  • Which actor starred in The Thin Red Line, King Kong, and The Village?  Answer »
  • He made Badlands in 1973, Days of Heaven in 1978, The Thin Red Line in 1998 and this film in 2005.  Answer »
  • What word can go in each blank to make 4 different movie titles? The Thin Blue _______ The Thin Red _______ The Long Gray _______ Walk The _______  Answer »
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