Anderson Platoon (1967)

This documentary follows a platoon's missions and daily life in Vietnam. Compared to the modern war documentaries like Restrepo, there is not much here, especially in reference to a phrase I used in my review of that film "degree of embeddedness." Perhaps for its era The Anderson Platoon had something new to offer, but it hasn't withstood the test of time. The most prominent weakness I find is the film's failure to take a stand. I don't know how the documentarians feel about their subject, and while documentaries ... well, document, the Vietnam War is such a politically charged subject that the film's avoidance of any political stance leaves it seemingly empty rather than objective. Overall, I can't recommend this film for anyone excepting those whose interest is so specialized that a blank film about Vietnam would hold some sway.