Review of Catch-22 (1970) by Stuart K — 22 Aug 2009

After winning a Best Director Oscar for The Graduate (1967), Mike Nichols went epic for his next film, and took on an adaptation of Joseph Heller's cult 1961 book, a black satire on the madness of war.

Nichols created a pitch black war comedy, although it was thrashed at the box-office by MASH, Catch 22 has the upper hand, thanks to a brilliant supporting cast and brilliant dialogue. Set towards the end of World War II, on the island of Pianosa, just of the coast of Italy.

It follows Bombadier Captain John Yossarian (Alan Arkin), who is driven to madness by doing so many flying missions and seeing so many of his fellow officers being killed. It gets to the point where he wants to be certified insane so he doesn't have to fly on any more missions.

But, someone has to prove he's insane. But the rest of the army base are just as mad, it's being overrun with insane burerocracy and unqualified Majors. It's a very intelligent film and you could imagine madness of this scale taking place during this time.

It's brilliantly shot by David Watkin, and features an exquisite supporting cast including Martin Balsam, Richard Benjamin, Art Garfunkel, Jon Voight, Anthony Perkins, Bob Newhart, Martin Sheen and Orson Welles!!