The War (1994)
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27% of critics liked it
(15 reviews) -
69% of users liked it
(16,816 ratings)
Jon Avnet's The War is set in the rural south and brimming with lessons on social consciousness, much like his previous effort, Fried Green Tomatoes (1991). During the summer of 1970 in backwoods Mississippi, Stephen Simmons (Kevin Costner) is struggling to be a breadwinner for his family while… More Jon Avnet's The War is set in the rural south and brimming with lessons on social consciousness, much like his previous effort, Fried Green Tomatoes (1991). During the summer of 1970 in backwoods Mississippi, Stephen Simmons (Kevin Costner) is struggling to be a breadwinner for his family while still suffering post-traumatic stress disorder from his service in the Vietnam War. His wife Lois (Mare Winningham) provides most of the family income. Stephen gets a job in a mine and saves a friend who has been injured, helping him erase his guilt over abandoning another friend during a firefight in Vietnam. Meanwhile, the Simmons children, Stu (Elijah Wood) and Lidia (Lexi Randall) are feuding with an even poorer family of neighbors, the Lipnickis, over access to a tree fort that Stu and Lidia built. Mr. Lipnicki (Raynor Scheine) is drunken and abusive and helps escalate the disagreement into a major battle for the fort. ~ Michael Betzold, Rovi
- Rating, Runtime
- PG-13, 2 hr. 6 min.
- Directed By
- John Avnet, Jon Avnet
- Written By
- Kathy McWorter
- Genres
- Drama, Action & Adventure
- In Theaters
- Nov 4, 1994 Wide
- On DVD
- Apr 13, 1999
- Studio
- Universal Pictures
Critic Reviews
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James Sanford, Kalamazoo Gazette
Pretentious drivel
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Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
Presents the efforts of a father to teach his children the ideals he believes give life meaning and purpose.
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)
Cast
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Elijah Woodas Stu Simmons -
Kevin Costneras Stephen -
Mare Winninghamas Lois
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Lexi Randallas Lidia -
Christine Baranskias Miss Strapford -
Raynor Scheineas Mr. Lipnicki
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