The War (1994)

Director:

Jon Avnet

Writer (WGA):

Kathy McWorter (written by)

Release Date:

4 November 1994 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | War

Tagline:

What's worth fighting for?

Plot:

Vietnam War vet Costner must deal with a war of a different sort between his son and their friends, and a rival group of children...

Plot Keywords:

Vietnam | Group | Friendship | Brother Sister Relationship | Water Tower

Awards:

1 win & 3 nominations

Cast

Elijah Wood	...	Stu Simmons
Kevin Costner	...	Stephen Simmons
Mare Winningham	...	Lois Simmons
Lexi Randall	...	Lidia Joanne Simmons
LaToya Chisholm	...	Elvadine
Christopher Fennell	...	Billy Lipnicki
Donald Sellers	...	Arliss Lipnicki
Leon Sills	...	Leo Lipnicki
Will West	...	Lester Lucket
Brennan Gallagher	...	Marsh
Adam Henderson	...	Chet
Charlette Julius	...	Amber
Jennifer Tyler	...	Ula Lipnicki
Lucas Black	...	Ebb
Justin Lucas	...	Willard

Runtime:

126 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | DTS-Stereo

Certification:

Australia:M | Iceland:L | South Korea:12 | Philippines:PG-13 | Australia:MA (DVD rating) | Argentina:13 | Chile:14 | Germany:12 | Netherlands:AL | Norway:11 | Portugal:M/12 | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | UK:12 | USA:PG-13 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Beaufort, South Carolina, USA

Company:

Island World

Goofs:

Continuity: When Billy falls through the top of the water tower, there is a large hole in it. After the boys rescue him and take him out, the top of the tower is back to the way it was before.

Quotes:

Lois: Lidia Simmons, what is the matter with you?
Lidia: It's you. You don't got good shoes, you hardly ever eat anything. You work all the time. This money was gonna be a new chance for you. Why are you always giving your chances away?
Lois: Now listen here. All your dad has ever done is fault to make this world a better place for us. Yes, he struggles. Yes, he has had dirt kicked in his face. All the more reason he needs our help. Now, you don't wanna help him that's okay... you gotta follow your instincts. But, I will not listen to you knock him. He's a part of me. You cut him down, you're cutting me down... you're cuttin' down yourself.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Game-On: (#3.2)" (1998)

Soundtrack:

Someday We'll Be Together

The war without & the war within...

It has been said that Vietnam is America's most unpopular war, but in light of both popular opinion and critical oversight, the namesake film may just inch Vietnam out of that role.

The title not only refers to the Vietnam War, which has an appropriate albeit very limited place in the film, but it also refers to the literal war that the children continuously wage with one another and the figurative war that rages within each of them...for identity and purpose.

Personally, I don't feel that "The War" deserves the press it received (or the lack thereof). It is a beautifully crafted film from its intricate, multi-layered story to its moving, realistic performances to its homestyle, nostalgic cinematography.

"The War" combines some of the best elements of "Forrest Gump" and "Fried Green Tomatoes." It captures the nostalgia of its timeframe, the innocence and naivete of youth, the situational humor of the moment, the consequences one's decisions and actions bring, and the tragedy of life. It even contains a couple of "musical" period moments.

Its structure harkens very closely to that of "To Kill a Mockingbird" (my favorite film). Both de-emphasize the star talent (Gregory Peck/Kevin Costner), who still performs remarkably and effectively in a supporting role. Both also utilize a (female) narrator who "bookends" the story in a quasi-flashback style, as well as plays a pivotal (if not the starring) role in the story. Each narrator tells the story of her brother and her father: their growth and what has been learned from and about them.

"Sometimes all it takes is a split second to do something you regret the whole rest of your life." What a great and appropriate theme for a film that few went to see. No wonder so many problems still exist in the world.