It's hard to divorce this film from its context, namely some considered Fonda's anti-war activism to be ... "un-calculated" would be a nice word ... if it were a word. Out of that context comes this thesis-driven film that puts the anti-war message in the mouths of the soldiers who know the war best. But Fonda's
character remains fairly apolitical; she is not given any rousing speeches about giving peace a chance, and her character is not reduced to the depths that Dern's is. And for that reason, among others, the film wreaks of misogyny. Sally (Fonda) is confined to the role of the helper. Beyond the anti-war message, which glares through every frame, this is a classic story of a man saved by the love of a good woman - a good woman who, by the end of the film, is all-too-willing to provide the same service for her estranged, openly misogynistic husband. Female sexuality is portrayed in an equally reductive fashion. Throughout Sally's first orgasm, the most prominent sight is her wedding ring, constantly reminding us that whatever pleasure she feels is a violation of sexual mores. Though I don't blame the film for its anti-war thesis, it is open season on its reductive view of women.What is more, the film "feels" unbalanced to me. The heavy moments are too heavy, the light moments are too light, and the connective tissue between them is almost non-existent. So, why 2.5 stars? Because Dern's and Voight's performances are astounding. Dern scores a ten the Christopher Walken Creepometer, and Voight's ending monologue made my eyes leak. It is unfortunate that such work wasn't in service of a better script.
November 28, 2010
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