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The Killing Fields

Play trailer Poster for The Killing Fields R Released Nov 2, 1984 2h 21m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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93% Tomatometer 43 Reviews 91% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
New York Times reporter Sydney Schanberg (Sam Waterston) is on assignment covering the Cambodian Civil War, with the help of local interpreter Dith Pran (Haing S. Ngor) and American photojournalist Al Rockoff (John Malkovich). When the U.S. Army pulls out amid escalating violence, Schanberg makes exit arrangements for Pran and his family. Pran, however, tells Schanberg he intends to stay in Cambodia to help cover the unfolding story -- a decision he may regret as the Khmer Rouge rebels move in.
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The Killing Fields

The Killing Fields

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Critics Consensus

Artfully composed, powerfully acted, and fueled by a powerful blend of anger and empathy, The Killing Fields is a career-defining triumph for director Roland Joffé and a masterpiece of cinema.

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Critics Reviews

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Paul Attanasio Washington Post ... a visually arresting epic guaranteed to capture the hearts and minds of its audience. Jan 4, 2018 Full Review Peter Travers People Magazine If you see no more than one film a year, make this the one for 1984. Sep 16, 2015 Full Review Noel Murray The Dissolve Every scene of The Killing Fields (and every participant in its making) is in service of showing how abruptly a seemingly safe and vital individual can have everything essential stripped away. Rated: 4/5 Jan 13, 2014 Full Review Molly Haskell Vogue This is one of the quietest "war" movies ever made; yet, it's an indelible portrait of the excitement, horror, and confusion with which journalists experience war. Feb 27, 2020 Full Review Barbara Shulgasser Common Sense Media Intense, violent movie about brutal Cambodian regime. Rated: 4/5 May 8, 2018 Full Review Adrian Turner Radio Times Few feature films have captured a nation's agony more dramatically than Roland Joff's The Killing Fields. Rated: 5/5 Sep 16, 2015 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Leonardo M What a chaos. The first 40min of the film are fillers, with a sequence of events and a narrative that adds zero to the arch of the story for the latter 1h20 min. Then, the movie oscillates between some story and random depictions of war in Cambodia that again add nothing to the story arch. John Malkovich's character is seen most of the time just randomly taking photos in a hassle, there is not even a clear reason why. Despite the fact that they had to use film at the time, the photographer is never carrying film rolls or multiple cameras. The movie is mostly very unrealistic and doesn't really offer any glimpse into the war, the state of Cambodia at the time, the invasion the movie was supposed to depict or the journalists. There is very little dialogue, most of the time the characters are running on screen. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 12/07/24 Full Review Michael W This news/war movie was really good. Sam Waterston, Haing S. Ngor, John Malkovich, Julian Sands, Craig T. Nelson, and the rest of the cast did a great job in this movie. This true story about the relationship between a New York Times reporter and his interpreter reporting on the Cambodian Civil War was dramatic and intense. It's about reporting on a war and making friends along the way, as well as helping them to get to safety no matter how long it takes. If you haven't seen this movie yet, check it out sometime. It's a must see. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 07/21/24 Full Review Gareth v A powerful war movie that looks at the damage and pain caused by the Khmer Rogue and also the story of friendship and loyalty. Ngor in his first role is sensational as the interpretor, Dith Pran. One of the the best movies of 1984. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/26/23 Full Review Garrett B. - Gtmkm98 Sam Waterston and Haing S. Ngor act their hearts out in this heartbreaking and unforgiving masterpiece chronicling the horrors of the Khmer Rouge. Dith Pran (Ngor) witnesses and experiences unspeakable horror throughout the movie, losing his family and nearly his life to the oppressive Khmer Rouge regime. Even so, he refuses to give up, even when he's on his last breath. His story of resilience is among the best filmed in cinema. And it doesn't hurt that Ngor actually experienced the regime firsthand. As for Schaumburg (Waterston), he faces his own adversities throughout the movie, rising up and blowing his role out of the water. If this film was a foreshadowing to his run on Law and Order, it was a good one. Absolutely phenomenal movie detailing the resilience of man in horrible situations. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/06/23 Full Review John A A very early and fired-up Sam Waterston performance infuses what this film needs to really work. The length and mildly unfocused direction are the main detractors for this harrowing and earnest 80's flick but by the time the end credits roll you will have any regret in witnessing Roland Joffe's career high. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 04/28/23 Full Review dave s It's hard to imagine that what should have been a great film could be reduced to merely passable based on a bad music score, but such might be the case with The Killing Fields. The movie, about friendship, loyalty and the horror of war, centers around the relationship between New York Times journalist Sydney Schanberg (Sam Waterston) and his aide Dith Pran (Haing Ngor) as they try to bring international attention to Khmer Rouge rule in Cambodia and the covert American intrusion into the country at the tail end of the war in Vietnam. Filled with countless powerful images and an enduring message, much of the impact is sabotaged by Mike Oldfield's horribly distracting score, consisting primarily of a shrill and wince-inducing synthesizer that sucks the emotion out of countless powerful scenes. While it's still worth watching, it might be more impactful with the sound turned down and the subtitles turned on. Just a suggestion. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Movie Info

Synopsis New York Times reporter Sydney Schanberg (Sam Waterston) is on assignment covering the Cambodian Civil War, with the help of local interpreter Dith Pran (Haing S. Ngor) and American photojournalist Al Rockoff (John Malkovich). When the U.S. Army pulls out amid escalating violence, Schanberg makes exit arrangements for Pran and his family. Pran, however, tells Schanberg he intends to stay in Cambodia to help cover the unfolding story -- a decision he may regret as the Khmer Rouge rebels move in.
Director
Roland Joffé
Producer
David Puttnam
Screenwriter
Bruce Robinson
Production Co
Goldcrest Films International, Enigma Productions, International Film Investors
Rating
R
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 2, 1984, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 1, 2008
Runtime
2h 21m
Sound Mix
Surround
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