We're going to be talking regularly here about how the military and war are depicted in films and books. I want your input on this, and would like to start by saying that there is one movie that was made more than 60 years ago you may not have seen or even heard of that I highly recommend: "The Best Years of Our Lives."
"The Best Years of Our Lives" is both stunningly ahead of its time and timeless. It addresses something few war movies did in those days: the aftermath. Coming home. Its standout performance was from an actual amputee, Harold Russell.
I watched this movie the other night on cable. I had heard of it but had never seen it. It blew me away. The film touches on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from which so many warriors suffer. Back then they called it shell shock, battle fatigue, and other euphemistic terms that made it sound not quite so horrible. The movie, whose theme is that it isn't as easy as society sometimes makes it seem to leave combat and re-enter the 'real world," brilliantly chronicles that tough transition.
Paul Sullivan, founder of Veterans for Common Sense, a non-profit organization that serves our veterans, thinks "The Best Years of Our Lives" is the best war movie ever made, and he is adamant that it should be remade - but set in modern times. It's an interesting idea. There isn't a single battle scene in this film. There isn't any gore. It is not high-adrenaline. It doesn't exactly sound like a movie for today's audience. However, this film connects. It tells a gripping story, and hopefully there will always be room for good story telling in films.
'Best Years' actually goes farther than most movies of that or any era have in compassionately depicting the hardships faced by our troops after they leave active duty. And it covers the good stuff that happens when our troops come home, too. It's honest, it doesn't pull punches, but yet it's still a bit less depressing than some other films that have dealt with the aftermath of war, like "Coming Home," the Vietnam film starring Jon Voight, Jane Fonda and Bruce Dern.
If you haven't seen "The Best Years of Our Lives," which was made in 1946, just after World War II ended, do so. Buy it or rent it. If you're anything like me, you will embrace it and find it remarkably timely given the fact that it is 64 years old. This is one of those movies that stays with you long after the closing credits roll. It won a bunch of Oscars, yet it has somehow seemingly become a forgotten classic.
It would indeed be very interesting to see a remake - same title, same characters, same story, only this time set in the current war. Nothing against "The Hurt Locker," the Oscar-winning film that truly captures what it's like on the ground in Iraq. But I think the nation could use a film like "The Best Years of Our Lives," an accessible, populist, touching, entertaining yet unflinching, no-holds-barred look at life after war.
If it is remade, though, I just hope the project is given to the right director, or they could really botch it. I'm thinking Stephen Spielberg would be the obvious choice. But it's doubtful he'd give World War II another go. He already made "Saving Private Ryan," which is also on my very short list of great war movies, as is his poignant masterpiece "Schindler's List."
Coming soon, more discussion of military movies, and books. Stay tuned. I'll be wanting your input!
