Movies / The Thin Red Line (1998)

5/10

Runtime: 170 min

Genres: Action Drama War

Languages: English Greek Japanese Tok Pisin

Countries: USA


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 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 HortonSome 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.


Directors (1) Credit
Terrence Malick ...
Writers (2) Credit
James Jones (novel)
Terrence Malick (screenplay)
Composers (1) Credit
Hans Zimmer ...
Editors (3) Credit
Billy Weber ...
Leslie Jones ...
Saar Klein ...
Cinematographers (1) Credit
John Toll (director of photography)
Actors (88) Credit
Adrien Brody Cpl. Fife
Amos Niuga Melanesian Extra
Arie Verveen Pvt. Charlie Dale
Ben Chaplin Pvt. Bell
Ben Hines Assistant Pilot
Benjamin Green Melanesian Villager (as Benjamin)
Carlos Tome Melanesian Extra
Clark McCutchen Soldier (uncredited)
Dane Moreton Pvt. Alexander (uncredited)
Danny Hoch Pvt. Carni
Dan Wyllie Medic #1
Darrin Klimek (uncredited)
Dash Mihok Pfc. Doll
David Harrod Cpl. Queen
David Paschall General (uncredited)
Donal Logue Marl (uncredited)
Don Harvey Sgt. Becker
Elias Koteas Capt. James 'Bugger' Staros
Emmunual Konai Melanesian Extra
Felix Williamson Private Drake (uncredited)
George Clooney Capt. Charles Bosche
Gordon MacDonald Pfc. Earl
Hiroya Sugisaki Japanese Pvt. #7
Immanuel Dato Melanesian Extra
Jace Phillips S-1 (uncredited)
Jack Melanesian Man Walking
James Caviezel Pvt. Witt (as Jim Caviezel)
Jared Leto 2nd Lt. Whyte
Jarrod Dean Cpl. Thorne
Jennifer Siugali Melanesian Extra
Jimmy Xihite Melanesian Villager (as Jimmy)
Joe Watanabe Japanese Officer #3
John Augwata Melanesian Extra
John Bakotee Melanesian Extra
John C. Reilly Sgt. Storm
John Cusack Capt. John Gaff
John Dee Smith Pvt. Train
John Savage Sgt. McCron
John Travolta Brig. Gen. Quintard
Joshua Augwata Melanesian Extra
Justin Ward Navy Soldier (uncredited)
Kazuki Maehara Japanese Pvt. #1
Kazuyoshi Sakai Japanese Prisoner #2
Kengo Hasuo Japanese Prisoner
Ken Mitsuishi Japanese Officer #1
Kick Gurry (uncredited)
Kirk Acevedo Pvt. Tella
Kouji Suzuki Japanese Pvt. #3
Larry Neuhaus Crewman
Larry Romano Pvt. Mazzi
Marina Malota Marina
Mark Boone Junior Pvt. Peale
Masayuki Shida Japanese Officer #2
Matt Doran Pvt. Coombs
Michael Iha Melanesian Extra
Michael McGrady Pvt. Floyd
Minoru Toyoshima Japanese Sgt.
Miranda Otto Marty Bell
Nick Nolte Lt. Col. Gordon Tall
Nick Stahl Pfc - Beade
Norman Patrick Brown Pvt. Henry
Paul Gleeson 1st Lt. Band
Penelope Allen Witt's Mother (as Penny Allen)
Peter Morosiro Melanesian Extra
Polyn Leona Melanesian Woman with Child
Randall Duk Kim Nisei Interpreter (uncredited)
Robert Roy Hofmo Pvt. Sico
Ryûshi Mizukami Japanese Pvt. #4
Sean Penn 1st Sgt. Edward Welsh
Selina Tome Melanesian Extra
Simon Billig Lt. Col. Billig
Simon Lyndon Medic #2
Simon Westaway First Scout
Stephen Konai Melanesian Extra
Stephen Spacek Cpl. Jenks
Steven Vidler 2nd Lt. Gore
Taiju Okayasu Japanese Pvt. #6
Takamitsu Ôkubo Japanese Soldier
Terutake Tsuji Japanese Pvt. #5
Thomas Jane Pvt. Ash (as Tom Jane)
Tim Blake Nelson Pvt. Tills
Todd Wallace Pilot
Tomohiro Tanji Japanese Pvt. #2
Travis Fine Pvt. Weld
Vincent Wild Melanesian Guide (as Vincent)
Will Wallace Pvt. Hoke
Woody Harrelson Sgt. Keck
Yasuomi Yoshino Young Japanese