07-06-19 Heartbreak Ridge (1986)

Seen: June 17th, 2007
Format: Broadcast (HDNMV - HDNet Movies)
Rating: 5

I like Clint. What's more I respect him. He seems to have a decent feel for film and has done some great work as a director. I was surprised to learn he's won two Oscars for Best Director and was nominate twice more. He's made some great films behind the camera and in front of it and often both.

This isn't one of them.

This is a genre film. It's the classic "Tough old battle hand turns a bunch of reject/geek/criminal/naive recruits into a well bonded unit after which they are tested and united in combat". There's a ton of these. Stripes is an excellent parody of the genre.

So there's nothing really new here. Eastwood is the crusty hero who can't function in the real world. He's a Medal of Honor winner, takes no crap, loves his country and is tough as nails. A perfect part for him. He could play it in his sleep, but actually works at it and is very good.

The rest is kind of a mess. The writing rarely rises above cliche. The unit he "trains" is played by mostly bit-player talent. There are a few recognizable faces, but most of the actors are not particularly talented and generally forgettable. The rest of the casting is passable.

Of special mention is Mario Van Peebles. I don't think I hated his character the first time I saw this, but man, I can't stand him this time. Stitch Jones is a caricature beyond compare. His style and mannerism lock him firmly into the early 80s, form which he'll never escape. His mere presence dates the film so rigidly that its difficult to watch now.

I wonder how much of the character was written versus created by Van Peebles (and allowed by Eastwood). Regardless, I think it's Stitch that really undermines the credibility of the film.

There are some decent moments here, generally between Highway and the people from his past. Eastwood knows how to play the compassionate side of his tough guys and he does a very nice job here. There's a few scenes that play for sarcastic humor that find their mark well. Some of the training sequences are decent, though the majority are unintentionally and comically cliche.

I think Eastwood did a decent job with what he had to work with, but it wasn't enough to stand the test of time. See this is you're an Eastwood completist or on the last night channel after partying with your buddies 'til 0h dark thirty.

The Good: Eastwood is another tough guy

The Bad: Nothing really new to the genre

The Ugly: Stitch Jones.