Glory
Winner of three Academy Awards!
The heart-stopping story of the first black regiment to fight for the North in the Civil War, GLORY stars Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington, Cary Elwes and Morgan Freeman. Broderick and Elwes are the idealistic young Bostonians who lead the regiment; Freeman is the inspirational sergeant who unites the troops; and Washington is the runaway slave who embodies the indomitable spirit of the 54th Regiment of Massachusetts.
Member Reviews
A feel good war movie? - cathyottawa
This is probably as close as you're going to get to one, which I wasn't expecting in the least.
A film about the first black regiment in the US army? Surely it will be all about how they were forced to enlist, and how horribly they were treated, with lots of racists slurs....but that's not this film at all, which was a pleasant surprise.
This is about blacks being given the choice to enlist, and even the choice to leave (when they're told what will happen to them if they're captured). It's about their determination to become true soldiers, and see battle. And it's about the pride, heart, and bravery of the 54th when battle finally comes.
This actually reminded me of those sports movies, where the rag tag team work hard, and get to play in the big game.
Matthew Broderick is incredible in the role of Robert Shaw. That he wasn't even nominated for an Oscar is criminal.
My only complaint would be with the annoying, cloying musical score, that tells the viewer how they should be feeling in no uncertain terms before they have a chance to form their own emotional response. Many scenes would have been infinitely more moving (and would feel less dated) with no score whatsoever.
They may have taken dramatic license with some of the facts, but the heart of the story is certainly true, and it's a story worth telling, and worth seeing.Superb Civil War Movie That Everyone Should See - revsdd
From the graphic depiction of the Battle of Antietam that open the movie, to the graphic depiction of the Battle of Fort Wagner that closes it, this must surely rate as one of the best war movies ever. The battle scenes are meticulously recreated, the acting is absolutely brilliant and the drama compelling throughout. The 54th Massachussetts was the first all black regiment (except for the white officers who commanded it) in the history of the US Army, and this is its story. The performances are outstanding. Special mention has to be made of Matthew Broderick. As I recall, having made his name in Hollywood playing Ferris Bueller, he was something of a controversial choice for the part of the young Colonel Robert Gould Shaw. But he pulls the part off with ease. He plays Shaw quite appropriately as nervous and uncertain - promoted well ahead of his time - and being perhaps overly hard on the troops to prove his leadership. But Broderick also brings out the essential humanness of the man, his commitment to the abolitionist cause and his desire to demonstrate that his black soldiers were every bit as good as the best white soldiers the army had. With Morgan Freeman, Denzel Washington, Jihmi Kennedy, Andre Braugher, and Cary Elwes all in significant roles, this was a true ensemble cast that worked together perfectly.
Col. Shaw reading the Proclamation of the Confederate Congress to his men that all blacks captured would be returned to slavery, that any blacks captured in federal uniform would be executed and that any white officers commanding black troops would be executed and then emerging from his tent the next morning to see if any were left (literally, as the movie depicts - and probably accurately - expecting most to be gone) is perhaps the most moving scene I've ever come across.
There may be some historical inaccuracies, but anyone interested in the Civil War should watch this. It's really quite brilliant.A fine war movie - Blob
Its a fine war movie and a good story as well. The pacing gets a bit draggy towards the end with a switch to the dramatic, it might work well on the big screen or for a first time viewing, but on repeated viewings it is a bit much.
Also the Wikipedia article is a must read for differences between the movie and reality.
Member Reviews
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A feel good war movie? - cathyottawa
This is probably as close as you're going to get to one, which I wasn't expecting in the least.
A film about the first black regiment in the US army? Surely it will be all about how they were forced to enlist, and how horribly they were treated, with ...Superb Civil War Movie That Everyone Should See - revsdd
From the graphic depiction of the Battle of Antietam that open the movie, to the graphic depiction of the Battle of Fort Wagner that closes it, this must surely rate as one of the best war movies ever. The battle scenes are meticulously recreated, the acting ...A fine war movie - Blob
Its a fine war movie and a good story as well. The pacing gets a bit draggy towards the end with a switch to the dramatic, it might work well on the big screen or for a first time viewing, but on repeated viewings it is a bit much.
Also the Wikipedia ...