Review of The Thin Red Line (1998) by Paul R — 27 Sep 2013
After a 20-year long hiatus, Malick returned to such a magnificent form with one of the most deeply complex war films to ever come out of the Hollywood studio system. We don't follow one specific character, rather delve into the thoughts and minds of many, as we follow different forms of thought and crisis each soldier probably faces during war time.
Malick's least concern is to have a traditional narrative; for him, it's far more involving and effective to follow the disjointedness and messiness that war brings about in human nature, and the rather beautiful poetry that permeates the air that only an artist like Malick would dare delve into.
John Toll's cinematography is both destructive and alluring-- with each step bringing us closer to a certain doom or fate each character will have, and just the epic-scale Toll sets with his camera is remarkable and attention-grabbing.
It may appear to be directionless and meandering, but in a sense, so is war. There is no definitive point to where war can go, and in Malick's eyes, war is more thought-provoking and complex than to mold into a straight narrative.
This review of The Thin Red Line (1998) was written by Paul R on 27 Sep 2013.
The Thin Red Line has generally received very positive reviews.
Was this review helpful?
