Hamburger Hill (1987) 6.7
A very realistic interpretation of one of the bloodiest battles of the Vietnam War. Director:John IrvinWriter:James Carabatsos |
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Hamburger Hill (1987) 6.7
A very realistic interpretation of one of the bloodiest battles of the Vietnam War. Director:John IrvinWriter:James Carabatsos |
|
0Share... |
Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Anthony Barrile | ... | ||
Michael Boatman | ... |
Pvt. Ray Motown
(as Michael Patrick Boatman)
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Don Cheadle | ... | ||
Michael Dolan | ... | ||
Don James | ... | ||
Dylan McDermott | ... | ||
Michael A. Nickles | ... |
Pvt. Paul Galvan
(as M.A. Nickles)
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Harry O'Reilly | ... | ||
Daniel O'Shea | ... | ||
Tim Quill | ... | ||
Tommy Swerdlow | ... | ||
Courtney B. Vance | ... | ||
Steven Weber | ... | ||
Tegan West | ... | ||
Kieu Chinh | ... |
A brutal and realistic war film focuses on the lives of a squad of 14 U.S. Army soldiers of B Company, 3rd Battalion, 187th Infanty Regiment, 101st Airborne Division during the brutal 10 day (May 11-20, 1969) battle for Hill 937 in the A Shau Valley of Vietnam as they try again and again to take the fortified hill held by the North Vietnamese, and the faults and casualties they take every time in which the battle was later dubbed "Hamburger Hill" because enemy fire was so fierce that the fusillade of bullets turned assaulting troops into shreded hamburger meat. Written by Matthew Patay <1792a@aol.com>
This is one of the very best and most realistic movies on the Vietnam War. There is no politicizing angst like "Platoon" and no flights of fantasy and metaphysics like "Full-Metal Jacket" or "Apocalypse Now". Those movies were too full of themselves and their "message" (and Oliver Stone, in particular, sought more to advance his political viewpoints by distortion rather than show realistic combat). These guys in the 101st Airborne were engaged in a brutal, actual battle. From the first ambush scene through each of the assaults on the hill, realism was achieved. The North Vietnamese hiding safe in their bunkers during air-strikes, only to emerge and start shooting and rolling grenades down the hill again on the paratroopers--all real. The conversations among the troops, about what they would do when they got home, what kind of car they would buy, are all typical of what I remember from my year over there in the infantry. There was no pontificating about good and evil as with Oliver Stone's much overrated "Platoon". Most of all, it showed guys trying just to take care of each other, while still carrying on with a meat-grinder of a mission. The actors were all virtually unknown at the time this was made, but acquitted themselves well. This movie was unfortunately underpromoted and slipped virtually unnoticed through the theaters, leaving most of us to catch it in the video stores. I am glad I came across it. If you missed this one, go rent it.