The use of flashbacks really impacts the ability to focus. While the entire story is told with this tactic, there are also a few flashbacks within the flashback that sidetrack from the overall arc. While a trip to Louisiana allows us to momentarily experience the intolerance the 92nd felt, it does little for story progression and could have been told in a crisper and more focused manner. The other flashback is potent, but feels tacked on and diverts from the flow of the film.
The performances are quite good. Michael Ealy, who some might remember from the Showtime series Sleeper Cell, is the standout as Bishop. Alonso does a splendid job as the core of the piece, Hector, and his character adds an appealing dynamic. As love interest Renata, Italian actress Valentina Cervi provides the perfect quantity of fiery sexual tension.
Lee’s work with the battle sequences is good, but his affinity for music-driven melodrama dampens the bulk of the movie. Scenes feel mislaid or out of order, as though the film’s editor was snoozing on the job. While Lee tries to cover various perspectives in regards to the war, he ends up crowding the movie with scenes and flashbacks that baffle and fail to enchant.
Sadly, Miracle at St. Anna is an awfully average effort from a generally dependable director. It is one of his weakest motion pictures in years and would have been better served as a miniseries, which is a system Lee excels at. As a motion picture, it feels congested and exceedingly pushy.
The standard DVD features the motion picture in widescreen (2.35:1) presentation enhanced for 16x9 televisions and Dolby digital 5.1 surround sound. There are no bonus features.
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Article comments
1 - Andrew M.
Unfortunately, Spike Lee needs to converse with someone that has a historical wartime background before embarking upon such an ambitious - and clearly inaccurate endeavor. Basic oversight's such as the observance of the Blackout and conversation cannot be ignored. Spike Lee cannot be allowed rewrite history just because it "appears so" in a Hollywood movie. While "Buffalo Soldiers" were often confronted with racial prejudice from other members of the U.S. Army, the confrontations outlined in the movie were painfully overstretched - showing Spike Lee's anger and racism to be the enemy - and not the German forces they were supposed to be fighting. "The best war movie since Saving Private Ryan"? Nope. Not even. You have a long way to go before claiming that accolade. RT gave this 33% - I personally wouldn't be so kind.
2 - Dr Dreadful
Andrew, I think Lee's whole point was to have his protagonists struggle with doubt as to why they were fighting the Germans when they'd been treated far worse by their own side.
The one bit that I did think stretched credibility in that regard was the scene in which the Buffalo Soldiers were refused service in a Southern ice cream parlor while on leave. After what they did next, I severely doubt that the quartet would have even been in Italy. They would have been cooling their heels in a military prison for the duration of the war and possibly a lot longer.
3 - Jordan Richardson
Andrew,
As you might be able to tell from even the most cursory reading of my review, I didn't like the film.
But let's bear in mind that this motion picture is based on McBride's book, primarily. Films "rewrite" history all the time; it's called artistic license and it is well within the rights of someone telling a fictional story to do just that with a framework of history. Lee is not shooting a documentary, so his responsibility is primarily as a storyteller not as a historical reference point. Anyone using Hollywood motion pictures as reference points to history would be foolish. I think that goes without saying.
Also, I'm not really sure who you're quoting when you say "The best war movie since Saving Private Ryan." That isn't my quotation, although I suppose it's more of a generalized statement from your soapbox. I agree with you, it isn't the best war movie since Saving Private Ryan at all. And Saving Private Ryan, frankly, is worthwhile only for the first segment. After that, it completely comes undone.
Spielberg, by the way, rewrites history as well.