A “masterpiece of cinema” described as the best war movie ever is now streaming on Amazon Prime. The two-and-a-half-hour epic was nominated for eight Academy Awards and hailed as a masterpiece by viewers decades after its 1979 release.
Directed by Francis Ford Coppola, this American war film explores themes of the psychological and physical toll of war, and it was revered for its cinematography and portrayal of conflict. Set during the Vietnam War, the legendary Apocalypse Now follows Captain Willard, played by Martin Sheen, on a dangerous mission upriver into Cambodia to find and assassinate Colonel Kurtz, played by Marlon Brando.
Kurtz has been accused of murder, and he is considered extremely dangerous after becoming high on power to see himself as a god-like figure.
Willard’s journey becomes as much psychological as physical, forcing him to confront the horrors of war and ultimately, Kurtz.
The production for Apocalypse Now was well known for being plagued by issues, including budget overruns, actors arriving unprepared, and even weather destroying the expensive sets, yet what emerged is what some described as a masterpiece.
One ten-star review hailed it as Coppola’s best work, writing: “This is such a masterpiece of American cinema, beautifully photographed, and the river is such a perfect metaphor and backdrop for the story.”
Another added: “I was shell-shocked after seeing this masterpiece, and despite some close competition from the likes of Fellowship of the Ring, this movie still remains my all-time favourite nearly 20 years after I first saw it.”
A third said: “A must see movie and without any doubts the best war movie ever! Many tried to copy but still there are no movie even close as good as this!!”
One fan admitted it’s a Marmite film which polarises viewers: “I find it very interesting how few,’middle of the road’ comments there are. Everyone either loves it, or they hate it.”
It echoes the initial reviews, with many hailing the cinematography, but several critics finding the themes anticlimactic. Some reviewers say this is why they like the film, because it delivers more questions than answers.
One unsatisfied viewer wrote: “Now, it would appear by judging the user and critic reviews that my opinion is in the minority. Nonetheless, I cannot for the life of me understand the extremely high ratings for this film.”
After being nominated for eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director (Coppola), and Best Supporting Actor (Duvall), Apocalypse Now went on to win Best Cinematography and Best Sound.