Review of Patton (1970) by Ben L — 16 May 2017

Patton is loaded with iconic moments, brilliant dialogue, and one legendary acting performance. It?s the kind of movie where I wonder what the big clip would be that they show at the Oscars ceremony, because there are so many to choose from.

It starts from the very beginning on such a massive high point, and is a roller coaster after that. I loved how the film focused in on this character, established his personality early, and then showed the arc of his journey through World War II.

George C. Scott is the only man for this role, and I loved every minute of his performance. From the brash speeches to those moments when he was humbled, I was completely invested in this character. I struggled following exactly what was going on in the war at any given moment because they made little jumps forward so often that I didn?t know what had happened.

It?s like the movie is a series of amazing vignettes, but they struggled with some of the story-telling in between. Also a few of the actual war scenes get quite muddled because it doesn?t seem like they maintain the 180 degree rule, so I lose track of which army I?m watching and who?s winning.

However, the movie is less about the war and more about the titular character, and I think they nailed the portrayal of the man. He was a controversial character, and the movie never takes sides on whether the ends justify the means when it comes to his methods of commanding troops.

I thought Patton was an excellent biopic, and one I?ll gladly watch over many other war films, because it is so focused and character-driven. Definitely my kind of movie.