The Thin Red Line (1998)

Director:

Terrence Malick

Writers (WGA):

James Jones (novel)
Terrence Malick (screenplay)

Release Date:

15 January 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama | War

Tagline:

Every man fights his own war.

Plot:

Director Terrence Malick's adaptation of James Jones' autobiographical 1962 novel, focusing on the conflict at Guadalcanal during the second World War.

Plot Keywords:

Color In Title | Accidental Suicide | Shirtless Male | Shot In The Neck | Barechested

Awards:

Nominated for 7 Oscars. Another 17 wins & 19 nominations

Cast

Kirk Acevedo	...	Pvt. Tella
Penelope Allen	...	Witt's Mother (as Penny Allen)
Benjamin Green	...	Melanesian Villager (as Benjamin)
Simon Billig	...	Lt. Col. Billig
Mark Boone Junior	...	Pvt. Peale
Adrien Brody	...	Cpl. Fife
Norman Patrick Brown	...	Pvt. Henry
James Caviezel	...	Pvt. Witt (as Jim Caviezel)
Ben Chaplin	...	Pvt. Bell
George Clooney	...	Capt. Bosche
John Cusack	...	Capt. Gaff
Jarrod Dean	...	Cpl. Thorne
Matt Doran	...	Pvt. Coombs
Travis Fine	...	Pvt. Weld
Paul Gleeson	...	1st Lt. Band

Also Known As:

Mince ligne rouge, La (Canada: French title)

MPAA:

Rated R for realistic war violence and language.

Runtime:

170 min

Country:

Canada | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:16 | New Zealand:M | Philippines:PG-13 | Italy:T | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Belgium:KT | Finland:K-14 | France:U | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:IIB | Hungary:16 | Netherlands:16 | Norway:15 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:PG | South Korea:12 | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R | Canada:14A

Filming Locations:

Bramston Beach, Queensland, Australia

Company:

Fox 2000 Pictures

Trivia:

Producers Robert Michael Geisler and John Roberdeau, who were feuding with Terrence Malick, said they would attend the Oscars ceremony. Malick said if they were going to attend, he would stay home. None of them attended the Oscars. The movie won no awards.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: The wake from the camera boat can be seen cutting across the path of the first wave of landing craft as it makes a sweeping turn in front of them.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Private Witt: I remember my mother when she was dyin', looked all shrunk up and gray. I asked her if she was afraid. She just shook her head. I was afraid to touch the death I seen in her. I couldn't find nothin' beautiful or uplifting about her goin' back to God...

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Book That Wrote Itself (1999)

Soundtrack:

In Paradisum

A Beautiful Film

By far the best film I have ever seen. It baffles me that people could criticize this intricate metaphysical look at war, nature and humanity. The cinematography is so superb that each frame of the film stands on its own. The voice overs offer majestic reflections on the nature of war and humanity. The intensity of this film is unsurpassed.