zardoz-13 Review of Field of Lost Shoes

Field of Lost Shoes (2015)

A White-Washed Version of Confederate Civil War History

[5/10 · 8 December 2014]

Revisionist history ruins the standard-issue, tragic, American Civil War saga "Field of Lost Shoes" about gallant teenagers recruited from the Virginia Military Institute to participate in the real-life battle of New Market in 1864. VMI celebrates the exploits of these brave young cadets annually, and their story is certainly the stuff of compelling drama. Unfortunately, "Soul Surfer" director Sean McNamara and scenarists Thomas Farrell and Dave Kennedy have taken liberties with what actually occurred with regard to various real-life participants. For example, the filmmakers paints Henry A. Wise as an anti-slavery proponent when in fact he championed 'the peculiar institution.' This low-budget but handsome looking six million dollar epic features a handful of recognized stars, including Lauren Holly, Tom Skerritt, Keith David, and David Arquette, but they have little to work with aside from their celebrity personalities. Jason Issacs comes off looking the best with Tom Sherritt not far behind. Ultimately, as well-intentioned as it is, "Field of Lost Shoes" is barely memorable when compared to "Gettysburg" or "Gods and Generals." The production values look spectacular, and the Civil War re-enactors give the movie a sprawling sense of scale. The orchestral music is atmopheric. The writers fall back on clichés too often, and the structure of the story is predictable, especially with the doomed lovers. Sadly, the issue here is the white-wash job that the filmmakers have performed on the Confederates. "May God forgive me," mutters Confederate General John Brekinridge (Jason Issacs of "Daredevil"), when he commits these valiant youngsters to battle. The uniforms, firearms, and staging of the action is not without distinction. The film draws his title from the shoes lost in the muck by these young Confederates who charged into cannon fire. Apparently, McNamara has an obsession with maimed youth because both "Field of Lost Shoes" and "Soul Surfer" focus on youth.