Review of Miracle at St. Anna (2008) by Thomas J — 20 Mar 2009

Certainly not without its problems, and though it doesn't really grow into its own skin until about halfway through, Lee sprinkles a few of his characteristic flourishes to great effect here, making this period piece his own, for better (mostly) and for worse (at times): some of the oppositional characters are vilified and over exaggerated to such a degree as to render them implausibly cartoonish.

At times I was frustrated--even bored--but the emotional weight and the bizarre dream-like calm presiding over the imagery and narrative make this a welcome, if not essential (the subject matter takes care of that), addition to the overinflated canon of war films.

As a spectator, you're expected to accept a lot--it's constructed and executed like a fairy tale spun from within the throes of malaria--and though you may be tempted to bail out before Lee finds his footing, "Miracle at St.

Anna" offers as a reward an operatic, highly emotional third act.