Shenandoah: I’m late on watching this anti-state classic. Jimmy Stewart has some memorable lines. The only notable inaccuracy is linking the War of Northern Aggression to slavery.
The Tunnel: German film chronicles the first tunnel escapes from East Berlin led by a defecting East German swimmer in the early 1960’s. The passion and fortitude of the people involved is very impressive.
Paths of Glory: Stanley Kubrick’s 1957 anti-war film looks at the suicidal military strategies of World War I. Those who give the orders, as always, are unaccountable.
Come and See: Very dark Russian film about a young man trying to survive the Nazi onslaught in Byelorussia. I was struck by the accurate portrayal of the perverted grunts on the ground who actually carry out war’s slaughter. A definite must-see but be prepared for a depressing couple hours.
Das Boot: Even if you’ve seen the original it’s well worthwhile to see this restored, 1997 re-release in which an hour was added to the original film. The film provides a clear anti-state message as well as being very entertaining. Be sure to watch it in the original German with English subtitles. I tried watching a couple minutes with dubbed English but found that it ruined the experience and gave the film less authenticity.
10MPH: A small group of creative individuals decide to drive a Segway scooter across the country from Seattle to Boston. This documentary follows their journey and encounters with a number of interesting individuals. Surprisingly, the film only shows one bad encounter with agents of the state.
All Quiet on the Western Front: The 1930 original. Listening to the dialogue in this movie, one realizes that the questions about the necessity of war, as the well as the propaganda promoting it, has changed little in the last 75 + years.
Breach: One of my favorite actors, Chris Cooper, plays Robert Hanssen, the FBI agent arrested and convicted of espionage in 2001. The account makes an attempt at historical accuracy and is very entertaining. Notice the gang turf wars fought between government agencies, which mirror the gang turf wars fought between the states that created these agencies. Hanssen is accused of doing untold “damage” to his country (meaning state) but from my perspective, it looks as if his actions helped restrain the growth of the American Empire and its intervention in other’s affairs. Maybe he should be considered not a traitor, but a hero.
Black Hawk Down: Well-directed piece by Ridley Scott. I came away with a feeling of hope that a well armed populace can be very effective turning away an invading aggressor. Something to keep in mind if the Emperor ever turns his goons on the local populace. Ignore all the childish bravado that emanates from the characters. Only in the military can one be “proud” of an action, no matter how pointless or unsuccessful that action is. One can be “proud” of an action that accomplishes absolutely nothing positive. Pathetic.
The Americanization of Emily: Well written anti-war classic. If only the world had more “cowards” as ably represented by James Garner.
A Man For All Seasons: Well acted drama pitting a man between the state and his church.
Kelly’s Heroes: Very funny WWII film has a motley collection of disgruntled, but clever, infantry grunts going behind enemy lines to loot German gold.
Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress: Two brothers work to keep their minds and spirit free during the Cultural Revolution in China- a time when even a chicken recipe was considered “reactionary.”
We Were Soldiers: Well made Vietnam War drama based on actual events. Give the film makers credit for showing the North Vietnam Army’s view of the battle, as well. The propaganda emanating from the state and its militarist supporters is always the troops are “fighting for you.” Yet, in films like this (and a number of others) the claim is they”fight for each other.” So, which is it? Mel Gibson is Lt Gen. Harold Moore who insists one should “hate war,” yet he spent a lifetime pursuing and executing such activity. Moore’s famous quote is, “hate war” but “love the American Warrior.” This is no different than saying, “hate murder, but love the assassin (at least if he’s American).” This film also exposes the hypocrisy of praying to a Christian God for protection (as Gibson’s character does regularly) yet asking for help to “kill the little bastards.”
A Very Long Engagement: Beautifully filmed French WWI drama. Great story that shows not just the needless physical destruction of war but the psychological suffering, as well- both by the combatants and their loved ones.
King of Hearts: Another French WWI film- this one a farce which asks the question, “Exactly which lunatics deserve to be in the asylum?”
