Flags of Our Fathers

May 31, 2007

Rated: R Runtime: 132 min Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Based on a best selling novel of the same name by James Bradley. Flag of our Fathers is the story of the historic flag raising on Mount Suribachi during the Battle of Iwo Jima. But, unlike other war movies the real story is not so much the battle, but the flag raising itself. Legend has it, that On February 23, 1945 6 men (5 Marines and 1 Navy Corpsman) climbed to the top of Mount Suribachi, to plant our flag and declare victory over the island, and all of this was caught on film in one of the single most popular photos ever taken. That was the story the US citizens were told, but that ain’t exactly the truth. Well, let’s just say not all of it’s true. Yes we did climb the mountain, and yes we did plant the flag, but that was not the first flag planted and we were far from victorious when we did it. In fact it took another 31 days to fully capture that little island and establish our much-needed midway point to downtown Tokyo.

Flags of Our Fathers Anywhoo, this famous photo makes it’s way to the US shores and the military gets a great idea, bring those 6 boys (well 3 now, 3 of them died within days of the photo being taken) home and have them go on a coast to coast tour telling their story, and asking the stateside Americans to invest in war bonds. By this time fighting a war on 2 fronts had nearly bankrupted our country and according to some of the points outlined in this film (book as well), if we didn’t find more money we would lose both wars. FDR had just died, the military didn’t have the resources or cash to build ships, tanks or even ammunition, and the war department was desperate to do whatever they had to, to get money, and this was the opportunity they’d been waiting for, and in their estimation could not have come at a better time.

Flag of Our Fathers follows the 3 survivors Ira Hayes (Beach), John Bradley (Phillippe), and Rene Gagnon (Bradford) as they go from place to place selling their story to the millions at home, that needed something to believe in, and some sign that all of the hundreds of thousands dead or dying was worth it. This late in the war the morale of the troops as well as the citizens at home was at an all time low and judging by the outcome, this was exactly what was needed for everybody, and the rest was as you say history.

The survivors deal with the pressure of the loss of their friends as well as the multi layered lie the government is telling it’s people, as much as they hate being a part of it, they know the need for the lie is even greater and their story means more to the folks back home then it ever could any of them. It’s a great book and the movie is a very solid representation of it. So if you liked the book you should like the movie.

Eastwood out does himself in my opinion with his direction and had it not been for his annoying score, I would say it was his best directing effort ever. I realize one has nothing to do with the other but come on Clint you need to give us a break! You did the same thing in Million Dollar Baby and it was annoying then too! We get it, your talented and you can do whatever you want… but enough is enough, pick one or the other! Now I’m curious to see how the second half of this epic will play out. In case you didn’t know, Clint filmed 2 movies back to back about the same battle. One from our perspective (this one) and one from the Japanese that’s due out next year called Letters from Iwo Jima. Who knows, that one may be the 5 star choice of the pair.

Posted by J.C. Edwards | Filed Under 4 Stars, Adam Beach, Barry Pepper, DVD, Drama, Jesse Bradford, John Benjamin Hickey, R, Ryan Phillippe