The Thin Red Line

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The Thin Red Line

R

Released Dec 25, 1998

2h 50m

War

History

Drama

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80%

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106 Reviews

80%

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100,000+ Ratings

In 1942, Private Witt (Jim Caviezel) is a U.S. Army absconder living peacefully with the locals of a small South Pacific island. Discovered by his commanding officer, Sgt. Welsh (Sean Penn), Witt is forced to resume his active duty training for the Battle of Guadalcanal. As Witt and his unit land on the island, and the American troops mount an assault on entrenched Japanese positions, the story explores their various fates and attitudes towards life-or-death situations.

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Critics Consensus

The Thin Red Line is a daringly philosophical World War II film with an enormous cast of eager stars.

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Joe Morgenstern

Wall Street Journal

stunning images couldn't make Days of Heaven a coherent dramatic whole, and they can't do it for The Thin Red Line.

Apr 2, 2019

Full Review

Richard Schickel

TIME Magazine

The film is a gorgeous garland on an unknown soldier's grave.

Apr 1, 2019

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Gavin Smith

Film Comment Magazine

There has truly never been a film about modern war quite like this one: a kind of lyric epic poem about the way men are transformed for good by the experience of war, carefully balancing romanticism and dispassion, action and introspection.

Apr 10, 2018

Full Review

Wesley Lovell

Cinema Sight

"The Thin Red Line” is a magnificent motion picture whose very essence is epitomized in its every sequence.

Rated: 4/4

Dec 25, 2022

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Rob Gonsalves

Rob's Movie Vault

Malick has crafted nothing so much as a poetic tribute to his own artistic sensitivity.

Rated: C-

Sep 2, 2022

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Terrence Malick's The Thin Red Line should not be seen as much as experienced through the perception of flowing images and existential questioning.

Rated: 4/4

Mar 18, 2022

Full Review

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Michael I

One of the greatest war movies ever made! Beautiful cinematography and musical score! Great direction and acting. A must watch!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/25/24

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Audience Member

An incredibly deep film that journey's into the soul of humanity itself. Complimented by Hans Zimmer's masterful score, The Thin Red Line asks the questions we strive to answer. The acting is unparalleled, and although set in the Guadalcanal campaign of the Solomon Islands during WWII, this is really not a war film.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

09/25/24

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Jens B

would not have been surprised if David Attenborough showed up and taught me something about the precious wildlife on this island

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/06/24

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Dinos K

very very bad movie!!!

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

08/04/24

Full Review

Alec C

When it comes to warfare, never expect to come out on the other side without getting some scars! As a platoon of soldiers intends to take Mount Austin during the Second World War, the many casualties and mental scarring leads the soldiers to question everything they're doing. An emotional epic about one of the most brutal wars in history, we're left to watch the carnage unfold as bodies drop and many familiar faces appear!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/18/24

Full Review

P.

The most impactful film I've ever seen.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/14/24

Full Review

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Terrence Malick

Director

Sean Penn

Sgt. Welsh

Adrien Brody

Cpl. Fife

Jim Caviezel

Pvt. Witt

Ben Chaplin

Pvt. Bell

George Clooney

Capt. Bosche

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Synopsis

In 1942, Private Witt (Jim Caviezel) is a U.S. Army absconder living peacefully with the locals of a small South Pacific island. Discovered by his commanding officer, Sgt. Welsh (Sean Penn), Witt is forced to resume his active duty training for the Battle of Guadalcanal. As Witt and his unit land on the island, and the American troops mount an assault on entrenched Japanese positions, the story explores their various fates and attitudes towards life-or-death situations.

Director: Terrence Malick
Producer: John Roberdeau, Robert Michael Geisler
Screenwriter: James Jones, Terrence Malick
Distributor: 20th Century Fox, 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
Production Co: Fox 2000 Pictures, Phoenix Pictures
Rating: R
Genre: War, History, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 25, 1998, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $36.4M
Runtime: 2h 50m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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