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The Thin Red Line

  • 19981998
  • RR
  • 2h 50m
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
186K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,161
285
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
The Thin Red Line (1998)
Criterion trailer
Play trailer2:47
3 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Drama
  • History
  • War
Adaptation of James Jones' autobiographical 1962 novel, focusing on the conflict at Guadalcanal during the second World War.Adaptation of James Jones' autobiographical 1962 novel, focusing on the conflict at Guadalcanal during the second World War.Adaptation of James Jones' autobiographical 1962 novel, focusing on the conflict at Guadalcanal during the second World War.
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
186K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,161
285
  • Director
    • Terrence Malick
  • Writers
    • James Jones(novel)
    • Terrence Malick(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Jim Caviezel
    • Sean Penn
    • Nick Nolte
Top credits
  • Director
    • Terrence Malick
  • Writers
    • James Jones(novel)
    • Terrence Malick(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Jim Caviezel
    • Sean Penn
    • Nick Nolte
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 1.5KUser reviews
    • 160Critic reviews
    • 78Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 7 Oscars
      • 21 wins & 47 nominations total

    Videos3

    The Thin Red Line
    Trailer 2:47
    The Thin Red Line
    A Guide to the Films of Terrence Malick
    Clip 2:31
    A Guide to the Films of Terrence Malick

    Photos177

    Terrence Malick in The Thin Red Line (1998)
    Bill Pullman, Ben Chaplin, and Adrien Brody in The Thin Red Line (1998)
    John Cusack, Jim Caviezel, and Ben Chaplin in The Thin Red Line (1998)
    Woody Harrelson, Sean Penn, Will Wallace, Adrien Brody, and Dash Mihok in The Thin Red Line (1998)
    John Travolta and Nick Nolte in The Thin Red Line (1998)
    Jim Caviezel in The Thin Red Line (1998)
    Sean Penn in The Thin Red Line (1998)
    Jim Caviezel in The Thin Red Line (1998)
    Dash Mihok in The Thin Red Line (1998)
    John Cusack in The Thin Red Line (1998)
    Woody Harrelson in The Thin Red Line (1998)
    Arie Verveen in The Thin Red Line (1998)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jim Caviezel
    Jim Caviezel
    • Pvt. Wittas Pvt. Witt
    Sean Penn
    Sean Penn
    • 1st Sgt. Welshas 1st Sgt. Welsh
    Nick Nolte
    Nick Nolte
    • Lt. Col. Tallas Lt. Col. Tall
    Kirk Acevedo
    Kirk Acevedo
    • Pvt. Tellaas Pvt. Tella
    Penelope Allen
    Penelope Allen
    • Witt's Motheras Witt's Mother
    • (as Penny Allen)
    Benjamin Green
    • Melanesian Villageras Melanesian Villager
    • (as Benjamin)
    Simon Billig
    Simon Billig
    • Lt. Col. Billigas Lt. Col. Billig
    Mark Boone Junior
    Mark Boone Junior
    • Pvt. Pealeas Pvt. Peale
    Adrien Brody
    Adrien Brody
    • Cpl. Fifeas Cpl. Fife
    Norman Patrick Brown
    • Pvt. Henryas Pvt. Henry
    Ben Chaplin
    Ben Chaplin
    • Pvt. Bellas Pvt. Bell
    George Clooney
    George Clooney
    • Capt. Boscheas Capt. Bosche
    John Cusack
    John Cusack
    • Capt. John Gaffas Capt. John Gaff
    Jarrod Dean
    Jarrod Dean
    • Cpl. Thorneas Cpl. Thorne
    Matt Doran
    Matt Doran
    • Pvt. Coombsas Pvt. Coombs
    Travis Fine
    Travis Fine
    • Pvt. Weldas Pvt. Weld
    Paul Gleeson
    Paul Gleeson
    • 1st Lt. Bandas 1st Lt. Band
    Woody Harrelson
    Woody Harrelson
    • Sgt. Keckas Sgt. Keck
    • Director
      • Terrence Malick
    • Writers
      • James Jones(novel)
      • Terrence Malick(screenplay)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Most of Adrien Brody's scenes were cut from the film and he wasn't aware of these changes until he saw the film at the premiere. Brody came to the premiere expecting to see himself as the lead character and was shocked when he saw that he was barely featured in the film, especially since Cpl. Fife was the central character in the novel on which the movie was based.
    • Goofs
      In one of the flashback scenes where the soldier and his girlfriend are holding hands, modern cars can be seen out the window in the background.
    • Quotes

      Private Edward P. Train: [narration] This great evil, where's it come from? How'd it steal into the world? What seed, what root did it grow from? Who's doing this? Who's killing us, robbing us of life and light, mocking us with the sight of what we might've known? Does our ruin benefit the earth, does it help the grass to grow, the sun to shine? Is this darkness in you, too? Have you passed through this night?

    • Crazy credits
      Composer Wrangler. . . Moanike'ala Nakamoto
    • Connections
      Featured in HBO First Look: The Thin Red Line (1998)
    • Soundtracks
      The Unanswered Question
      Composed by Charles Ives

      Performed by Orchestra of St. Luke's (as The Orchestra of St. Luke's)

      Conducted by John Adams

    User reviews1.5K

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    Superb, emotive filmmaking
    I'm very sorry I didn't get to see this film in the theatre. It is a beautifully filmed masterpiece with a superb story, excellent acting (esp. Nick Nolte), and a great script. It takes things way deeper than Saving Private Ryan or most other modern war movies dare to go. Very introspective and dreamy at times, with the camera constantly dwelling on faces, animals, and the landscape. Merrick is never in a hurry, and this pace suits the film well.

    The Thin Red Line asks a lot of good questions about death, war, and the ultimate meaning of life. Now that I have seen it, I'm very surprised that this film did not win picture of the year. Spielberg's film was a gritty, realistic portrayal of war. But it was also highly commercial and had a very contrived plot. In comparison, this film sort of wanders through itself and in the process helps to put you in the boots of the soldiers it portrays.

    My only criticism is perhaps the film was a bit long, but I never noticed that the second time through. I can't praise this film enough. Excellent work.
    helpful•158
    50
    • kevin-193
    • Dec 15, 1999

    FAQ3

    • Why didn't Witt surrender?
    • Will there be a director's cut?
    • Where is Guadalcanal?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 15, 1999 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Tok Pisin
      • Japanese
      • Greek
    • Also known as
      • Lằn Ranh Đỏ Mỏng Manh
    • Filming locations
      • Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands
    • Production companies
      • Fox 2000 Pictures
      • Geisler-Roberdeau
      • Phoenix Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $52,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $36,400,491
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $282,534
      • Dec 27, 1998
    • Gross worldwide
      • $98,126,565
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 50 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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