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Gardens of Stone

R 1987 1h 52m Drama List
44% Tomatometer 16 Reviews 55% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
Grizzled war veteran Sgt. Clell Hazard (James Caan) is disheartened when he is stationed as a guard in Arlington National Cemetery instead of an instructor of new recruits during the Vietnam War. When eager Pvt. Jackie Willow (D.B. Sweeney) is stationed under Hazard, the vet aims to educate the youth about war. Along with his old friend, Sgt. Maj. Goody Nelson (James Earl Jones), Hazard does his best to school Willow before he is deployed to Vietnam -- but both know that it may not be enough.
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Gardens of Stone

Critics Reviews

View All (16) Critics Reviews
Henry Sheehan Chicago Reader Bereft of that core, Gardens of Stone drifts off into decoration that’s intricate and highly accomplished, but strictly ornamental... Rated: 2/4 May 10, 2022 Full Review Variety Staff Variety Seems to take its name not so much from the Arlington Memorial Cemetery, where much of the action takes place, but from the stiffness of the characters it portrays. Dec 11, 2007 Full Review Time Out There's a pervasive and worrying sense of the central issues being gently but undeniably fudged. Jun 24, 2006 Full Review Cathy Burke United Press International For want of a timeless message on the horrors of war, Coppola does indeed tell a compelling story of one man's battle on the homefront. Caan gives a stunning performance after a five-year absence from the movie screen. Nov 8, 2016 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Subdued war drama on life on the home front during the Vietnam war. Rated: B May 20, 2012 Full Review TV Guide Unjustly underrated upon its release, Gardens of Stone is a quiet, respectful film filled with emotional power, exceptional acting (especially by Caan), and technical virtuosity. Rated: 3/4 Dec 11, 2007 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Steve D A lot of talent but little to show for it. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 03/02/23 Full Review Audience Member The worst 01 hour: and 52 minutes ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 02/11/23 Full Review Audience Member It was the only movie I've ever walked out on in my life. It was dull and tedious. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 02/21/23 Full Review Audience Member As a former service member, I am intrigued by the uniforms and how exact they were portrayed in this movie. Coppola is a real stickler for dress in his movies. I thought the movie was well done. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/13/23 Full Review Audience Member This is a GREAT film! Not top 100 all time, but worthy of seeing, if only for it is possibly the ONLY film to deal with the Vietnam War specifically, as opposed to a film set during the Vietnam War. Both Angelica Houston is and James Caan play wonderfully real characters who sharply portray the deep emotional, ethical, and personal struggles over Vietnam as felt by the people alive and in those situations at the time. Both LOVE, their country, their institutions, and the people used and destroyed by the conflict. I must see for all who wish to understand the conflict. Best Scene - Promotion! Coppola gets the "old Army" regardless of his Vietnam experience. JE Jones is the SNCO we all wish we had met. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/11/23 Full Review Audience Member Slow, predictable, boring. All the big names in the world couldn't save this dog. This is your typical 1980s version of a Viet Nam police action movie. I have several relatives including my father and I never heard them tell any stories like this. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 01/13/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

Synopsis Grizzled war veteran Sgt. Clell Hazard (James Caan) is disheartened when he is stationed as a guard in Arlington National Cemetery instead of an instructor of new recruits during the Vietnam War. When eager Pvt. Jackie Willow (D.B. Sweeney) is stationed under Hazard, the vet aims to educate the youth about war. Along with his old friend, Sgt. Maj. Goody Nelson (James Earl Jones), Hazard does his best to school Willow before he is deployed to Vietnam -- but both know that it may not be enough.
Director
Francis Ford Coppola
Producer
Francis Ford Coppola, Michael I. Levy
Screenwriter
Ronald Bass
Production Co
ML Delphi Premier Productions, Zoetrope Studios, TriStar Pictures
Rating
R
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 1, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA)
$4.4M
Runtime
1h 52m
Sound Mix
Surround
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