This skilful adaptation of William Wharton's novel creates close relationships between each character. Strong performances and precise direction help maintain them to the surprise ending.
A Midnight Clear (1992)
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Reviews Counted:24
Fresh:20
Rotten:4
Average Rating:7.4/10
Consensus: Beautifully filmed and wonderfully acted, A Midnight Clear is a holiday war film in search of a wider audience.
Runtime: 1 hr 47 mins
Genre: Action/Adventure
Synopsis: In 1944, a six-man American intelligence and reconnaissance unit is sent by their reckless major on a mission in a remote part of the Ardennes forest on the German front. Isolated in a remote villa... In 1944, a six-man American intelligence and reconnaissance unit is sent by their reckless major on a mission in a remote part of the Ardennes forest on the German front. Isolated in a remote villa in the dead of winter, they wind up developing a cryptic relationship with a small band of German soldiers nearby who've all but given up on the war effort. The disillusioned soldiers come face-to-face with one another in a beautifully filmed series of events, sharing Christmas carols, snowball fights, and a mutual desire to stay alive. Ethan Hawke stars as Will Knot, the young leader of the American unit who agrees to fake a battle with the German soldiers, who want to surrender peaceably but save their reputation. The cast includes Gary Sinise, Peter Berg, Kevin Dillon, Arye Gross, and Frank Whaley as Will's fellow recon officers. Against the hauntingly beautiful landscape of the Alpine tundra, the young men must face their darkest fears while trying to escape the horrors of war. This powerful and quietly stylish ensemble drama features lyrically beautiful voice-overs delivered by Hawke as he questions the validity of war and his spiritual place in the world. The film is based on the autobiographical novel by William Wharton. [More]
Starring: Peter Berg, Kevin Dillon, Arye Gross, Ethan Hawke
Starring: Peter Berg, Kevin Dillon, Arye Gross, Ethan Hawke, Gary Sinise, Frank Whaley, Larry Joshua, Curt Lowens
Director: Keith Gordon
Director: Keith Gordon
Story: William Wharton
Producer: Keith Gordon
Composer: Mark Isham
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Reviews for A Midnight Clear
The pristine, snowbound setting gives the film a still, other-worldly quality, and makes for some arresting images, particularly that of a German and an American corpse frozen in a posthumous embrace.
The performances are uniformly excellent as the film moves inexorably towards bloody confrontation and spiritual reckoning.
Delves into the strain of war on the human spirit and our dependency upon community in the face of senseless death.
While the antiwar message is familiar, it gains power from the deeply felt performances.
The performances are uniformly good by a number of familiar young actors and the atmosphere is exceptional, conveying the chilling essence of the unknown that soldiers in combat face, as well as the climactic cold in this case.
A Midnight Clear tells a wartime yarn that's quietly, often lyrically, winning.
Latest News for A Midnight Clear
December 19, 2006:
RT's Top Seasonal Dramas -- Christmas Countdown, Day Two
Welcome to Day Two of RT's Five Days of Christmas Countdown, where we serve up a different list each day of the best holiday flicks around. Today, we've got some heavier... More...
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