The Deserter (2003) User Reviews

I was QUITE impressed

[JohnnyMidget · 7/10 · 8 October 2004]

Let me say that I was QUITE impressed overall with The Deserter. I thought it was shot well, with nice clean visuals. The music was great and complemented each scene. The blend of ragtimey comedy music with fife-and-drum tunes worked strangely well! I have newfound respect for Borgman as a physical and facial comic actor. The bits with the drumsticks killed me--and it was mostly that starting pose, with the sticks up by his temples. I don't know why, but that NEVER got old. All the physical stuff worked. (And dare I say, bravo to Borgman for hanging by one foot off a cliff....) The downsides for me were two-fold. First, the "battle" scenes are too long by several minutes. When the first one started, I thought it was supposed to be that his regiment was leaving him behind; it took a while before I realized that it was two armies going to war. Later, the scenes simply ran too long--I found myself really wanting to get back to the Deserter. I grew tired of watching fat re-en-actors milling about and started picking out little things like the guy wearing sunglasses... My other nit-pick is that I lost track of what was going on in the third reel. I was never sure when the Deserter was with his captors and when he wasn't. The cuts got jumpier than they had been in the first two reels, and I actually got a bit disoriented. For the most part, though, Borgman has my admiration and congratulations. It's an engaging little film, VERY reminiscent of good old silents, with plenty of comedic nuances to reward sharp-eyed viewers. It generates honest laughter, and I think he did a remarkable job of bringing the character to life. I genuinely look forward to his next one.

Pretty Funny Indie Film

[crispin231 · 7/10 · 18 June 2006]

I was lucky enough to discover this movie online and am very happy that I did. The film is about an English drummer stationed in the United States who deserts from his regiment during the American Revolution.

The story follows the dumb ass drummer until the end when they go to hang him. Although the film was shot as if it was a Charlie Chaplin film, it doesn't feel like a sucky old movie or anything. It is pretty good.

I liked the funny comedy scenes with the drummer and the soldiers and when he kills a guy by accident I fell on the floor laughing! The battle scenes seem real and they were rather long which I kinda liked because you got to feel like this thing is real. Not enough blood and death though in the battle scenes. I guess for the little kids or something.

Also I liked the DVD because for an indie film it doesn't feel like a cheapo movie. The quality is good and the picture is good.

Anyone who likes a good laugh should Google this flick.

awesome

[darkwrestler · 10/10 · 8 January 2009]

This movie is phenomenal!!!! I have never seen a movie I cared more about in my life. Not even Gone With the Wind!!!! This movie has everything you could ever want and somethings you didn't know you wanted. There is not a single thing wrong with this movie. Borgman is such a talented director. So few people have the ability to direct and act and do it WELL. Borgman not only does both fantastically but he also does it while maintaining his rigorous filming schedule with all the movies he does over the years. This man is more of a genius than Hitchcock, Nolan, Lucas and Scorsese combined. This movie blows any other war movie out of the water. Move over Spielberg, here comes Borgman!!!!!