#91 - Glory

Let me preface this entry by saying that the Civil War is not really a war that I find to be all that interesting. For whatever reason, Civil War is not really a war that I find to be all that interesting. unlike movies about WWII or aspects of that era in history, which I find to be fascinating. Nevertheless, Glory is a solid movie about the Union Army’s first all –black volunteer company and overall is a good “war film.”

This movie is compelling and interesting not only because of the subject matter, but the performance given by the cast in their portrayal of these soldiers. While there are many strong performances given by the cast in their portrayal of these soldiers. While there are many strong performances in this movie, in my opinion the real standout performances come from Denzel Washington (Private Trip), Andre Braugher (Cpl. Thomas Searles), and Morgan Freeman (Sgt. Major John Rawlins). All three actors give excellent performances in this film. One other notable performance is that of the multi-talented actor Cary Elwes. Elwes who I've seen in several other movies including The Princess Bride, Robin Hood: Men in Tights, and Ella Enchanted does a fine job here in portraying Major Cabot Forbes.

The overall look and feel of the picture is superb. The battle sequences were executed masterfully with the right look and feel. In some war movies the battle sequences become "special effects extravaganzas" and while they might be impressive, those extravaganzas forget to include the reactions and the personal experiences of the soldiers. The battles in Glory give a great account of the "soldier experience", providing the viewer with close-ups of soldier reactions to the events occurring in the various battles.

The only weakness in this film is perhaps the casting of Matthew Broderick in the role of Colonel Robert Shaw. Though, I've liked Matthew Broderick in movies such as Ferris Bueller's Day Off he didn't really seem fitted for this particular part. Every time he was on screen I kept seeing Matthew Broderick, instead of seeing Colonel Shaw. Broderick does a serviceable job and I can't off the top of my head think of any other actor who would have been better suited. I just know that he wasn't quite the right man for this role.

Hollywood doesn't always hit the mark when it comes to war movies (ex. Pearl Harbor). However, when they get it right, the result is often a great tribute to those who served our country in the quest for freedom and justice for all. The movie Glory is one of the times Hollywood did hit the mark and the result is a glorious, stirring, and compelling piece of war cinema.