Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site bbncca.ARPA Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxj!ihnp4!bbncca!sdyer From: sdyer@bbncca.ARPA (Steve Dyer) Newsgroups: net.movies Subject: Re: "A Soldier's Story" Message-ID: <976@bbncca.ARPA> Date: Sun, 30-Sep-84 21:11:22 EDT Article-I.D.: bbncca.976 Posted: Sun Sep 30 21:11:22 1984 Date-Received: Mon, 1-Oct-84 05:05:30 EDT References: <1280@ucla-cs.ARPA> Organization: Bolt, Beranek and Newman, Cambridge, Ma. Lines: 27 I agree with Peter Reiher about this movie, and though it is flawed, I definitely recommend that everyone see it. I liked the audaciousness of the film itself, for it is rare to see a Hollywood movie with an almost completely black cast, and no "name" stars (with the exception of Howard E. Rollins Jr., who made a big name for himself in "Ragtime" a few years ago.) The acting is quite good, especially the sargent, Adolph Caesar, and the ensemble of black recruits. Howard E. Rollins, Jr. is OK, but seems rather uncomfortable with his character, which IS severely underwritten. Often he comes off as a latter-day Sidney Poitier character, all Dignity but little complexity. Other than that, I found the script and Norman Jewison's direction surprisingly subtle, without any easy answers. Even the white officers are not written off as simply racist clowns, though their actions often would suggest it. I would classify this movie in the same category as "The Great Santini" and "An Officer and a Gentlemen", though perhaps dealing with a stronger social theme than either: well-crafted, though not perfect, engaging the audience without insulting its intelligence. This past Saturday when I saw it, the audience loved it. -- /Steve Dyer {decvax,linus,ima}!bbncca!sdyer sdyer@bbncca.ARPA