Review of Saints and Soldiers (2003) by Michelle A — 19 May 2012

A good, not great indie war film. The cinematography is top notch, the sets are well chosen and the film manages to make due with its clearly low budget. There is decent enough action in here, but it wisely shifts the focus to character development and survival instincts for a more human story. And though some of the morality/faith arguments are a little weak, it's handled with more subtlety and tact than you would find in other war movies.

There are missteps though. The acting is so-so, with the men playing Deacon and the sergeant giving the better performances. The British and southern characters' accents flip flop often and the medic's line delivery is rather flat. The music is also spectacularly unremarkable, with random shifts into blue grass for no real purpose other than that one of the characters is southern (it has no real impact as a result). The editing could have been better too, with some awkward cuts during action and conversation scenes that obscure what should be more clear.

Not the best indie war film (though I don't know many off hand), but an enjoyable romp for those who want a nice WWII diversion.