Hamburger Hill does not apologize for its material, and sends an anti-war message home to the viewer.
Although not as epic as Apocalypse Now, Hamburger Hill is a smaller more condensed story about a group of infantry men trying to get to the top of a hill.
Although there are attempts at character development early on in the film, this ultimately fails, and the characters don't really show any signs of development until there deep into there battle against the hill.
The stand outs are Courtney B. Vance as the hot tempered but caring Doc. Vance's portrayals as the unit's medic is the driving performance of the film, and one of the few characters that you truly care about.
Dylan McDermott plays the vocal point of the film as Sgt. Frantz, his speech to the new recruits in the beginning is memorial, as is his quiet talk with the men in a small hole as they drink hot chocolate. McDermott performance counter's Vance as it is more subdued. He doesn't take away from Vance's over the top Doc - but quietly he steals many scenes.
The other stand out for me was Anthony Barrilee as Vincent 'Alphabet' Languilli. He is one of the new recruits and a real wise guy, but as the movie progresses he becomes one of the few soldiers who is not at the forefront of the movie to really shine. His last moments in the film are heart breaking and he delivers some of the only memorable dialog the film has to offer.
Michael Boatman is memorable as Motown, as are Timothy Patrick Quill as Beletsky and Tommy Swerdlow as Bienstock.
Don Cheadle, in an early performance, makes you care about his character although he is given little time to develop him and is pushed aside by some of the more domineering personalities in that make up the unit.
The only performance that lacks, I felt was Steven Weber - the future pilot of the T.V. show "Wings." plays his character Worchester with a southern drawl and although he delivers a monologue towards the end of the movie, that almost makes you care for his character, he doesn't really make himself memorable enough. Which in a war film, where you have to play an ensemble of actors, is key.
This movie has one of the most brilliant syncs of film and music. As the helicopters fly into combat, and the camera pans over the men who are about to face death - The Animal's "We've got to get out of this place." plays. Brilliance.
The movie is solid, because of the performances of the at the time unknowns, and is worth your time.
Although not as epic as Apocalypse Now, Hamburger Hill is a smaller more condensed story about a group of infantry men trying to get to the top of a hill.
Although there are attempts at character development early on in the film, this ultimately fails, and the characters don't really show any signs of development until there deep into there battle against the hill.
The stand outs are Courtney B. Vance as the hot tempered but caring Doc. Vance's portrayals as the unit's medic is the driving performance of the film, and one of the few characters that you truly care about.
Dylan McDermott plays the vocal point of the film as Sgt. Frantz, his speech to the new recruits in the beginning is memorial, as is his quiet talk with the men in a small hole as they drink hot chocolate. McDermott performance counter's Vance as it is more subdued. He doesn't take away from Vance's over the top Doc - but quietly he steals many scenes.
The other stand out for me was Anthony Barrilee as Vincent 'Alphabet' Languilli. He is one of the new recruits and a real wise guy, but as the movie progresses he becomes one of the few soldiers who is not at the forefront of the movie to really shine. His last moments in the film are heart breaking and he delivers some of the only memorable dialog the film has to offer.
Michael Boatman is memorable as Motown, as are Timothy Patrick Quill as Beletsky and Tommy Swerdlow as Bienstock.
Don Cheadle, in an early performance, makes you care about his character although he is given little time to develop him and is pushed aside by some of the more domineering personalities in that make up the unit.
The only performance that lacks, I felt was Steven Weber - the future pilot of the T.V. show "Wings." plays his character Worchester with a southern drawl and although he delivers a monologue towards the end of the movie, that almost makes you care for his character, he doesn't really make himself memorable enough. Which in a war film, where you have to play an ensemble of actors, is key.
This movie has one of the most brilliant syncs of film and music. As the helicopters fly into combat, and the camera pans over the men who are about to face death - The Animal's "We've got to get out of this place." plays. Brilliance.
The movie is solid, because of the performances of the at the time unknowns, and is worth your time.