Review of Streamers (1983) by Bill B — 31 Jul 2009

Wow, no other recent reviews? This was just on IFC. This movie was adapted from a play and it's really obvious that not much was done to change the film. If they had just filmed the stage, there wouldn't have been much difference as far as content goes. This is all well and good with me, considering that the play just so happens to be fantastic. Even though this is a Matthew Modine Vietnam movie from the 80's, it has none of the sense of horror or demented nostalgia or brotherhood that movie like Full Metal Jacket had. These are just a few soldiers sitting around bored with nothing to do, but talk, think, and get as drunk as possible. Unlike MASH, there are almost no female characters and there is no comedy. It's like real life.

The title Streamers refers to according to imdb, "parachutes that do not open." It's a perfect title for this film. What we are given is a relatively subtle and calm situation that very subtly and gradually gets out of hand. All of the characters attempt to reason with the invisible force that guides them to their horrifying fates, but it doesn't matter. In a way, the escalation of the situation can be seen as a parable on the entire war. Or just general human relations in close quarters. This was not the movie I was expecting, but it did provide a whole lot of things to think about once it had finished.