194. Letters from Iwo Jima

Letters from Iwo Jima (2006)

Director: Clint Eastwood

Starring: Ken Watanabe

Kazunari Ninomiya

Tsuyoshi Ihara

IMDb Rating: 8

My Rating: 8

"If our children live safely for one more day, it would be worth one more day that we defend this island."

During World War II, the Japanese occupied island of Iwo Jima is the last barrier between the United States military forces and the main island of Japan. Iwo Jima would prove a perfect base for the American forces to attack, which the Japanese are aware of and are ready to prevent. The initial plan of attack plays out like a suicide mission, but when General Tadamichi Kuribayashi (Ken Watanabe) is given command of the island, he sets out with a different goal in mind. This angers other leaders under General Kuribayashi's command and also others stationed on the island. This even causes a few of them to leave. As we learn more about the existing conflicts between the ranks, we also get a view into the current and past lives of many of the soldiers. This film is from the Japanese point of view of the war, and is the companion to Clint Eastwood's Flags of Our Fathers.

It's rare, not unheard of mind you, that a World War II film released by an American director shows any point of view of the war other than the United States'. Letters from Iwo Jima is exactly that, a look into the lives of the people that saw us as the threat. This film really just gives us a sense that even though the United States was at war with Japan, we were really not much different. Soldiers had to leave their wives and families behind to defend their country, just as we did in the United States. This film also shows that you can make an excellent war film without littering it with propaganda. Letters from Iwo Jima succeeds because it tells a story, rather than just taking a bias and slanted view at war.

Ken Watanabe gives the memorable performance of this film. His calmness set against the background of an unknown fate and an inevitable invasion from a much larger army really stands out. Where everyone around him is in hysterics, Watanabe's General Kuribayashi leads with poise and confidence. In most films, it feels like every leader portrayed is trying to be as Patton-esque as possible. This is the complete opposite of that, and ultimately succeeds by doing so.

In the grand scheme of war films, Letters from Iwo Jima might not rank as one of my favorites, but it is definitely a refreshing view of war. There are the usual intense explosions, but the unbias angle and view of the soldiers fears and worries really set this film apart. More film than propaganda, I enjoyed it far more this time than my initial viewing in theaters during the Oscar season of 2007. As mentioned earlier, this is the companion piece to Flags of Our Fathers and in my opinion, Letters from Iwo Jima is the better film and story of the two.

213. Mystic River

Mystic River (2003)

Director: Clint Eastwood

Starring: Sean Penn

Tim Robbins

Kevin Bacon

Marcia Gay Harden

Laura Linney

Laurence Fishburne

IMDb Rating: 8

My Rating: 9

"It's like I told the girls: their daddy's a king, and a king knows what to do, and does it. Even when it's hard, and their daddy will do what ever he has to for those he loves. and that's all that matters."

It's the summer of 1975 in rural Boston, Massachusetts. Sean Devine, Jimmy Markum, and Dave Boyle are writing their names in a patch of fresh cement, when a car pulls up. The gentleman getting out of the car claims to be a police officer and informs the boys that they are in some serious trouble as a result of their vandalism. The man tells Dave to get in the car so that he can be transported home. Dave is very hesitant, but does as he is told. He is then taken to an abandonded basement where he is sexually abused for several days, before finally escaping into the woods.

Twenty-five years later, the old friends are brought back together when Katie Markum, the daughter of Jimmy (Sean Penn), is brutally murdered. Dave (Tim Robbins) is married to Jimmy's wife's cousin, and Sean (Kevin Bacon) is the lead homicide investigator on the case. As the mystery of the identity of the killer begins to unravel, it appears that Dave might be the prime suspect. He was at the bar she was at the night of her murder, and didn't arrive home until much later than usual. Things become even more suspicious when Dave's car is searched and blood is found inside. With the evidence becoming too overwhelming to not believe, Dave's wife tells Jimmy that she believes her husband may have killed Katie. Now Jimmy must confront Dave, to try and get the real answer of what happened to his daughter.

The mature subject matter of Mystic River is handled perfectly by an amazing ensemble of actors. Sean Penn gives his single greatest performance to date. The scene where he bursts into Katie's murder scene is so intense, you can't but feel a knot in the pit of your stomach. It's not often that an actor wins his Oscar in the first fifteen minutes of the film. You often forget that this silent monster is being played by an actor that we have become so familiar with. Tim Robbins is also excellent in their very different role for him. Never have we seen Robbins so reserved and humbled. Although, no one takes advantage of their screen time like Laura Linney. Her time in the film is very limited, but she steals the film with her evil turn in one of the film's final scenes with Sean Penn. If they are ever to make another film version of William Shakespeare's Macbeth, Linney should be casted immediately. Mystic River excels as a film thanks in large part to it's amazing cast.

Being the age that I am, I know of Clint Eastwood more as a director than an actor. Of course, I have seen Eastwood's classic westerns and action-packed cop dramas. Although, when I see Eastwood, I think of the incredible films when he was behind the camera. Mystic River is without a doubt his masterpiece. The use of dark blues and blacks casts an appropriate ominous tone over the entire film. Each scene is paced perfectly, whether it be a confrontation in a kitchen or an interrogation at a police station. Eastwood is well aware of his subject matter, and conveys his vision better than most directors today.

I will admit that I am guilty sometimes of liking a film too much. Mystic River is a film that I have thought is grossly underrated for years. Even it's representation on this list does not do it justice. This film should be ranked much higher on this list, but I do understand why some people would rate this film lower. What cannot be denied are the excellent performances and masterful hand of director Clint Eastwood. You owe it to yourself to check out this often overlooked film.