Writer/Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Starring: Marlon Brando, Martin Sheen and Robert Duvall
‘A Magnificent Masterpiece’
Few actors in Hollywood which achieved fame years ago are as beloved as Marlon Brando. Ever since his rise to recognition during the 1950’s, Brando has become one of the best actors in the film industry. Whether it’s the tales of star-crossed lovers, WWII soldiers or gangsters, he has portrayed many strong characters. Brando’s strength as an actor has often been his strong approach of method acting. Brando has built a reputation for being one of those actors with a strong dedication. He has always poured both his heart and soul into every role. Brando went through a great length to transform into everyone character he was playing. Brando gave some of the greatest performances of all-time in unforgettable movies. However, in 2004 the actor’s career was cut tragically short when he died. Brando’s heartbreaking passing marked a huge loss for the film industry. In the wake of his heartbreaking death, Brando left behind a lasting legacy by making several commemorated films that were definitely without a doubt worth watching.
I’m a big fan of Brando and adore all the films he made throughout his spectacular career. However, “Apocalypse Now” is definitely my favourite. Ever since its release in 1979, Francis Ford Coppola’s movie ha stood the test of time as a Vietnam War masterpiece. With the most thought-provoking film of his career, Coppola captured war soldiers facing despair. Packed with breathtaking production-design, engaging storytelling and phenomenal acting, it’s one of the greatest war movies ever made. At the centre of it all is an amazing performance by Marlon Brando, who captures a solider facing sorrow. Ultimately, what makes “Apocalypse Now” a masterpiece is its message. It delivers a strong message about the cost of war which would resonate with everyone. Unlike most war movies, it tackles themes everyone would relate to. A mesmerizing masterpiece about the Vietnam War, there are several strong reasons why “Apocalypse Now” is worth watching.
Set amid the Vietnam War, “Apocalypse Now” tells the story of a soldier sent on a dangerous mission to stop a colonel causing destruction. Martin Sheen portrays Captain Willard, a bold solider that’s traumatized by the Vietnam War. Impacted by grim aftermath of a war causing trauma, Willard questions whether is suited to participate in warfare in America. However, his life forever changes when he is sent on a tense mission to investigate a colonel posing danger. Colonel Kurtz (Marlon Brando) is a cruel army leader endeavouring to cause havoc through acts of violence. Accompanied by a talented crew of veterans, Willard goes on a journey to terminate the Colonel. When he finally finds the Colonel, Willard soon discovers that his mission isn’t going to be easy as he thought. As he discovers painful secrets regarding the Colonel, Willard begins to question whether his mission would ever be successful. Faced with a dilemma, Willard begins to wonder whether he would ever survive harrowing war causing trauma.
Francis Ford Coppola is a newcomer to the Vietnam War. Before he made “Apocalypse Now”, Coppola had never made a war film before. Coppola was most well-known for making gangster movies. His masterpiece “The Godfather” provided an enlightening glimpse at the lives of gangsters that were given great offers they couldn’t refuse. With “Apocalypse Now”, however, Coppola crafted his first war drama. It was the director’s first attempt to capture the trauma experienced by Vietnam War soldiers in a valley of darkness, but he succeeded immensely. Through bold cinematography, Coppola captures a soldier embarking on a journey to find a colonel that commits atrocities. Coppola is one of those filmmakers that has always excelled using montages in his movies, and “Apocalypse Now” is no exception. Coppola successfully uses montages to capture the experience of soldiers that bond together in the Vietnam War. For instance, montages enhance the travelling boat scene. During this heartfelt scene, Willard bonds together with fellow comrades on a boat by listening to music travelling toward a Valley of Darkness. One appreciates montages capturing the bonds between soldiers facing hardships during a devastating war. Montages are complicated techniques to use in war films. Nevertheless, the montages work immensely in this movie. Through stunning visuals, Coppola captures wars that are terrifying.
Another commendable aspect of “Apocalypse Now” is the production. From a technical point of view, the movie proves extremely well made. Coppola effectively uses diegetic sounds that capture the harsh nature of a war that proved tragic. Throughout the movie, Coppola utilizes these immersive sounds to capture a genocide in which people died. For instance, the diegetic sounds enhance the first attack scene. During this unforgettable scene, Willard witnesses the painful violence of a Vietnam war. Whether it’s sounds of deafening bombs exploding or lives of soldiers facing trauma which is frightening, diegetic sounds are tricky techniques to use in movies. As Steven Spielberg’s “Saving Private Ryan” demonstrated, diegetic sound enhance movies about WWII veterans. Nevertheless, it works immensely in this move. Through strong production-design, Coppola captures the lives of soldiers facing a decline.
Storytelling is one of the primary reasons why “Apocalypse Now” is a captivating classic which is enduring. The film is beautifully written, and effectively uses voice-over narration to convey wars causing tension. Coppola’s screenwriting. screenwriting is capturing tensions enduring by Vietnam war through narration. Throughout the movie, Coppola effectively uses narration to capture a pair of doomed lovers enduring destructions. For instance, voice over narration elevates the Vietnam War sequence. During this unforgettable scene, Willard expresses his negative perspective on the love of his life. Narration is a tricky technique to use in films. As Martin Scorsese’s “The Wolf of Wall Street” suggested clearly, narration enhances true stories about corrupt war. Nevertheless, it works immensely in this movie. Through using captivating storytelling, Coppola captures a way that’s frightening.
One appreciates astonishing performances.
Martin Sheen delivers one of his best career performances as Colonel Willard. Sheen first gained appreciation for his roles as heroes in celebrated westerns. With “Apocalypse Now”, however, took upon his most challenging role. It isn’t simple to embody the personality of a war veteran that suffers from severe trauma, but Sheen succeeded tremendously. It’s a role that gave the actor opportunity to showcase an emotional vulnerability audiences hadn’t witnessed from him before. With mesmerizing expressions, Sheen captures the angst, pain and strong determination of a war soldier on a dangerous mission. It’s a strong reminder of an actor that hasn’t lost ability to blow audiences away.
Marlon Brando is marvellous as a tormented war colonel facing sorrow affecting his ability to be a hero. Brando achieved appreciations for playing cruel gangsters with wisdom in his criminal masterpiece “The Godfather”. With “Apocalypse Now” however, Brando created his most frightening character. Brando excels at bringing characters to life through method acting, and his strengths are clearly evident in “Apocalypse Now”. With riveting expressions, he captures pan angst, determination and strong presence of an evil war colonel that seeks to complete a dangerous mission. It’s a phenomenal performance from one of the most beloved actors that’s once worked in Hollywood .
The final aspect of Apocalypse Now” which merits appreciation is the message. Unlike most war movies, it captures strong themes everyone would relate to. The film discusses strong themes including identity, marriages and trauma which would resonate amongst everyone. Viewers aren’t required to be very familiar with the Vietnam War which would certainly resonate without everyone. It gives an inspirational message about the costs of war that would resonate with everyone. In this regard, “Apocalypse Now” “stands out as a rare war movie that would definitely resonate with everyone.
Fans of Marlon Brando would appreciate “Apocalypse Now” and so will movie goers seeking exhilarating entertainment. An awe-inspiring war classic, it celebrates an actor that built a legacy which is the iconic.
Nearly 40 years following the release of a groundbreaking film about war soldiers embarking on frightening journeys into the valley of darkness to fight an apocalyptic war that’s terrifying, it’s a riveting reminder of a legendary actor that gained a huge following earning global recognition for his abilities to portray compelling characters whose commemorated movies are definitely without a doubt worth celebrating deserving acknowledgements several years after his heartbreaking passing left the world mourning.
5/5 stars
The Film Buff 