A.O. Scott in the New York Times, while agreeing that the movie "sometimes stumbles under its heavy, self-imposed burden of historical significance," suggests that this war movie, except for darker faces, is not all that different from war movies of the past. He writes: "Mr. Lee sticks to the sturdy conventions of the infantry movie, adapting old-fashioned techniques to an unfamiliar, neglected story. And the cinematic traditionalism of "Miracle at St. Anna" is perhaps its most satisfying trait. At its best, this is a platoon picture, and if it's not exactly like the ones Hollywood made in the late '50s and early '60s, that's part of Mr. Lee's argument: it's the movie someone should have had the guts or the vision to make back then. Better late than never." And Roger Ebert in the Chicago Sun-Times, while also expressing criticism about some of Lee's scenes, concludes: "The scenes I object to are not evidence of any special perception I have. They're the kind of scenes many studio chiefs from the dawn of film might have singled out, in the interest of making the film shorter and faster. But they're important to Lee, who must have defended them. And it's important to me that he did. When you see one of his films, you're seeing one of his films. And "Miracle at St. Anna" contains richness, anger, history, sentiment, fantasy, reality, violence and life. Maybe too much. Better than too little."
I am of Italian descent, and so are my relatives, but none of us are offended by Spike Lee's film. The movie honestly depicts the heavy cost of discrimination and prejudice. The fact is that blacks, right up to the time of Civil Rights, were treated as second or third-class citizens--just the way gays are treated now. A significant number of blacks died during the war, but rarely was one of them given a purple heart. And, none were given recognition for their sacrifices. Italians, remaining in Italy, had to survive. Some were fascists. Some were anti- fascists. Some Germans were pro-Jewish, but they feared for their lives, and dared not to turn against Hitler and the fascists. Some whites were treating blacks like trash. Yet, blacks were fighting for America and freedom. Some Italians accepted the blacks. Some Italians did not, but blacks immediately noticed that they were treated better by the Italians, than they were by the Americans. Some Italians resented Americans invading their native soil--regardless of their race, color, or ethnicity. Additionally, some members of the same racial, ethnic, and cultural group don't even get along. It is clear that human beings, in general, have a lot to learn about treating each other with dignity, respect, love, gentleness, and kindness. Nobody wins in a war, not even in a war of discrimination and prejudice. Spike Lee tells it like he sees it, and through the sharing of his thoughts and feelings. He tells a story of oppression, richness, anger, history, sentiment, fantasy, reality, violence, and life. Sometimes, life is ugly and is anything but white-washed pretty, or made better by being politically correct. Spike Lee is to be praised for telling a story that is not white-washed pretty or politically correct. I don't think he tells us too much. I think that Spike Lee tells us what--he thinks-- we need to see, feel, and hear. And, through Spike Lee's voice, he tells us what is important to him. Like Roger Ebert, I defend Spike Lee's right to do so.
I rank this film a 10 out of 10.
I am of Italian descent, and so are my relatives, but none of us are offended by Spike Lee's film. The movie honestly depicts the heavy cost of discrimination and prejudice. The fact is that blacks, right up to the time of Civil Rights, were treated as second or third-class citizens--just the way gays are treated now. A significant number of blacks died during the war, but rarely was one of them given a purple heart. And, none were given recognition for their sacrifices. Italians, remaining in Italy, had to survive. Some were fascists. Some were anti- fascists. Some Germans were pro-Jewish, but they feared for their lives, and dared not to turn against Hitler and the fascists. Some whites were treating blacks like trash. Yet, blacks were fighting for America and freedom. Some Italians accepted the blacks. Some Italians did not, but blacks immediately noticed that they were treated better by the Italians, than they were by the Americans. Some Italians resented Americans invading their native soil--regardless of their race, color, or ethnicity. Additionally, some members of the same racial, ethnic, and cultural group don't even get along. It is clear that human beings, in general, have a lot to learn about treating each other with dignity, respect, love, gentleness, and kindness. Nobody wins in a war, not even in a war of discrimination and prejudice. Spike Lee tells it like he sees it, and through the sharing of his thoughts and feelings. He tells a story of oppression, richness, anger, history, sentiment, fantasy, reality, violence, and life. Sometimes, life is ugly and is anything but white-washed pretty, or made better by being politically correct. Spike Lee is to be praised for telling a story that is not white-washed pretty or politically correct. I don't think he tells us too much. I think that Spike Lee tells us what--he thinks-- we need to see, feel, and hear. And, through Spike Lee's voice, he tells us what is important to him. Like Roger Ebert, I defend Spike Lee's right to do so.
I rank this film a 10 out of 10.