Nearly three decades after its release, a blockbuster war film from the 1990s has landed on Disney+, leaving new fans in tears. The Red Thin Line, written and directed by Terrence Malick, had viewers declaring it “the greatest war film ever made” as it narrates a fictionalised account of the Battle of Mount Austen during World War II.
Its star-studded line-up includes a cast of Hollywood award-winning actors, including Adrien Brody, George Clooney, Sean Penn, Woody Harrelson, and John Travolta. The film is based on James Jones’ novel and focuses on the 1943 conflict at Guadalcanal, where the United States Army arrives to break the last Japanese resistance. The gruelling battle pushes the men to their physical and emotional limits, and its scenes reveal the true horrors of the war from their perspective.
According to the IMDB summary: “The reasons for this war get further away as the world for the men gets smaller and smaller until their fighting is for mere survival and the life of the other men with them.”
These scenes left fans on the edge of their seats, as one critic said: “The Thin Red Line is a sensual experience, so richly detailed and textured that its images leap from the screen.”
Another penned: “One of the most harrowing of anti-war statements, and the most beautiful too.” While a third reviewer shared: “The emotional punch isn’t as violent as with Private Ryan but it’s almost as emotional but in a more subdued way and it’s absolutely beautifully filmed.”
As another highlighted the “beautiful cinematography and musical score! Great direction and acting. A must watch!” Following its release, The Thin Red Line scored a box office triumph as it earned $98.1 million (£72 million) against an estimated budget of $52 million (£38 million).
After its success, the film became a strong contender at the 1999 Oscars with nominations in major categories, including Best Picture and Best Director.
After it didn’t secure any awards, many fans felt the film was unjustly overlooked or “snubbed”. Adrien Brody, who was 23 when he starred in the movie, previously opened up about how the role was initially set to be his “big break,” and was disappointed to learn his scenes in the film were drastically reduced.
However, in a GQ interview, the actor reflected on his earlier feelings and admitted he was grateful to have avoided early fame: “I didn’t know that the role had been eviscerated. Then I looked back, and I thought, How lucky I am that I averted acclaim and praise at that age.”
As well as being available to stream on Disney+, The Thin Red Line has also landed on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, and the Sky Store.