I was not disappointed in this production at all as I went in not knowing what was in store for me, or the boys in the trench. The film is set bound with in the British trenches of World War I and this adds to the claustrophobia of the situation. For me this tale was a nail bitter in that I knew that anything could
happen at any moment. Death is stalking these boys and has been for so long that some are in a quiet panic, other numbed by his presence with them in the trenches. Death has become a bunkmate, a drinking buddy, and the one who shows you the naughty French postcards.
A fine ensemble of actors is gathered here and under the whizzing flairs and constant distant booming of artillery they do some wonderful work on screen. And again Mr. Daniel Craig brings something wonderful to the table as a hardened Sergeant who knows that he must keep his boys busy to keep them sane. It is a pleasure to watch him particularly in the "Jam" scene. The range of emotion he shows at the beginning of the scene when the boys can't see him as he eats from a jar of homemade jam sent by his wife is stunning and real, near tears he shoves the jam in his mouth as if to stuff down his impossible sorrow. Watch as this brilliant actor moves on to offer some jam to his superior officer. This is brilliant work by an actor who even in 1999 and early on in his career had a grasp of what it is to be a multi faceted human being and the talent to project that onto the screen. Daniel Craig is one of the best there is in world cinema.
The film is well worth seeing for these reasons and many more. At times very graphic and violent and still deeply touching and sad beyond the deepest wounds of war and the human heart.
November 8, 2009
