Le maître de guerre

I had forgotten how funny this film really is. Shown on British TV last night, I found myself laughing like a loon all the way through it. Being a big fan of Eastwood, it's been quite a while since re-viewing this mini classic. And although it does take a drastic turn at the end, with a slightly misjudged comment on war, this is by far his funniest movie.

I also found that his character is his most interesting. A hard, no-nonsense gunnery sergeant who looks for advice in women's magazine is a dream characterization. And the one-liners are perfectly attacked.

I did find Mario Van Peebles character a little annoying, but then I suppose that was the whole point, and it's always good to see Marsha Mason, who I think is totally underrated as a screen actress.

But this is Eastwood's movie, through and through and a real delight. See it, but don't take the ending too seriously.

Clint Eastwood is at his best in the role of "Gunny Highway." This is mostly a really excellent flick about patriotic values, military camaraderie and old grizzled military veterans. Gunny Highway comes across as the exact fellow you would want covering your ass in any tough situation you could possibly imagine. And Eastwood plays him perfectly with steely resolve, devotion, humor and a healthy touch of irreverence. Its great to see the transformation of Highway's squad, as well as the final moment of judgment for the totally hateful, obnoxious and bureaucratic Maj. Powers. (Oh, if only such b*****ds would get their deserved comeuppance in real life in such a manner, what a beautiful world it would be!)

The only real fault is the attempt to compare a minor police action in Grenada with Vietnam and Korea, "I guess we're not 0, 1 and 1 anymore." I mean, give me a break, Korea and Vietnam went on for years and killed millions! Grenada involved a couple of hundred casualties over a couple of days. Please! But I suppose in 1986 the American people were desperate for some kind of heroes. Its just that that kind of jingoism would have been much more appropriate after Desert Storm than Grenada. That being said, its still a very good movie with a fundamental message about values, loyalty and comradeship that we could easily have more of these days, besides, Clint is just great!

I love all of the comments about how unrealistic this movie is...guys relax its a movie.

Apparently the movie industry should be putting big warnings up on the screen saying:

WARNING: The following movie may contain scenes that are not 100% realistic. If this offends you please stop watching the movie and order the documentary channel.

Think about what you are saying when you complain that this movie is not realistic... do you bitch and whine because the Matrix isn't real? Sit down, shut up and enjoy the movie for what it is... fiction.

Pitting the decades of skill and wits of Eastwood against the witlessness of Recon Platoon. It's a comedy. Eastwood plays a tough as nails old type marine, a relic, nearing mandatory retirement. After getting himself in legal trouble he gets assigned to straighten out a recon platoon, who do not want to play by the book. And it is in his old stomping grounds, so he meets many from his past. Anyone who served, drafted or volunteered, will understand better this movie. Yes, the movie becomes predictable, but the way Eastwood handles it makes this a very enjoyable movie. That the Grenada operation was used to make a point is, in my estimation, a poor choice and unfortunate. A massive number of medals were awarded, though.

I recently revisited Heartbreak Ridge (1986) on Tubi. The plot revolves around an aging military officer seeking one final assignment before concluding his career. Tasked with training a group of misfit cadets in a last-ditch effort to reform them, he faces challenges as they resist orders, but he ultimately molds them into a disciplined unit. When they are sent to Korea, their survival hinges on applying the lessons learned.

Directed by and starring Clint Eastwood (Gran Torino), the film also features Marsha Mason (Nick of Time), Everett McGill (Twin Peaks), Moses Gunn (Shaft), Bo Svenson (Kill Bill), and Mario Van Peebles (Baadasssss!).

This film serves as the serious counterpart to Major Payne. Clint Eastwood delivers an outstanding performance with the perfect demeanor, one-liners, and mannerisms, showcasing his comedic prowess and authenticity. The hard demeanor and quick comebacks are tailor-made for Eastwood, establishing the characters brilliantly. Mario Van Peebles delivers a fantastic supporting character that easy to root for and against. The training scenes and fights are a lot of fun. While the war scenes may feel at times unrealistic and excessive, they add a fun dynamic to the storyline, leading to a worthwhile conclusion.

In conclusion, Heartbreak Ridge offers a compelling blend of character development, coming-of-age elements, and brilliant comedy. I'd give it a 7/10 and recommend watching it at least once.