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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Popcornmeter

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

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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

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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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Bill W

One of my favourite films of all time. Great score by Hans Zimmer, especially "journey to the line". Few films depict the physical and phycological horrors of war more than TTRL.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/18/24

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Blu B

All Time Classic. The music is really good and knows how to ramp up tension one minute and send you into a dreamlike state in the next effortlessly. I do wish it was a bit more catchy on it's on though, Everything else though is masterfully done. The acting is first rate across the board. While diferent members of the platoon have varying levels of character depth, none of them are forgettable. Nick Nolte is outstanding which is saying a lot given the all star cast. It's great casting across the board with excellent chemistry and direction. The framing, natural lighting, first rate special effects, camerawork is all top notch here. Terrance Malik's fingerprints are all over this. As much as this is about a company of soldiers expierence during the Battle of Guadacanal. This is also about the beauty of nature/life juxstaposed to the horrors of battle. It's during those beautiful moments of surreal beaches, natural forests, and happy flashbacks Mallick soars. He never crosses over into full arthouse mode though and balances walking the line (no pun intended perfectly). It very much is cut from the same cloth as a David Lynch film in that regard with the surreal dream momnets. The battle moments again though are first rate and Saving Private Ryan level good. I find it so interesting how for most of the hill battle we don't even see the enemy close up. It masterfully merges the soldiers journey and there appreciation for life/how the battle changes he survivors perspectives with the nature message. Everyone should give this a try once.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/17/24

Full Review

Garrett B

It’s no Apocalypse Now or Saving Private Ryan, but it truly stands on its own as a beautifully shot war film

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

11/11/24

Full Review

Gregory T

Ages well. Fantastic movie.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/11/24

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Jerod S

My favorite WW2 movie. It's very slow, but as along as you expect that going in, it's amazing!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/05/24

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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

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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