In trying to resurrect my DVD of the Week series (and this whole blog in general), I'm hoping that at least once a week I can pick a movie for you. For those times that you're in a Ballbuster, a Rogersless or Flick Gallery, or wherever you rent the DVD's, and you have no idea what to look for. Well, now you do.
In the trilogy of the best films of 2006, Letters From Iwo Jima stands tall and strong. It is Clint Eastwood's followup to his very good, if not great, Flags of our Fathers which was about a group of Americans involved in the Iwo Jima battle. This film tells from the perspective of the Japanese side and Eastwood has made a war masterpiece that ranks along the works of Kurosawa. It's a bit difficult to compare to other war films, as we really haven't had many stories on Iwo Jima in the past. If anything, it earns comparisons to Das Boot in the way we are given a complex view of war from the "other side".
It also helps that Ken Watanabe gives one of the best performances of last year as the strong-headed general Kurbiyashi. He is also supported by a strong group of characters, all with their own perspective of the Iwo Jima battle, who add to the horrors and the brutal reality of this war of which they lost.
The film is beautiful in many ways. Along with the complex characters and performances, Tom Stern's bleak and dank cinematography adds to the horrors of the situation, and Clint Eastwood's haunting score stays with you days after you've seen it.
This is an unforgettable film that would make a great addition to your collection. Oh, and I don't want to hear any bull about you not reading subtitles. There is no english dubbing, there are instead simple and elegant words along the bottom of the frame to help guide you along this great film.
Jason
efilmcritic.com
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