At the height of the Vietnam War, Captain Benjamin L. Willard is sent on a dangerous mission into the depths of Cambodia to assassinate Colonel Walter E. Kurtz, a renegade Special Forces officer who has gone mad. Along a perilous river journey, Willard and his small crew encounter various challenges and moral dilemmas, showcasing the brutality of war and the descent into madness. The story, a modern retelling of Joseph Conrad’s “Heart of Darkness,” explores themes of morality, the horrors of war, and the duality of human nature.
Length: 2h 27m (Original Release)
Genre: Epic, War
This Title is: A reflection on the horrors of war and the depths of human madness
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Trailer
Cast
- Marlon Brando as Colonel Walter E. Kurtz
- Robert Duvall as Lieutenant Colonel Bill Kilgore
- Martin Sheen as Captain Benjamin L. Willard
Parental Guidance
Maturity Rating: R
Contains intense scenes of war violence, language, and some sexual content.
Trivia
- The film won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival despite being an unfinished version at its premiere.
- Production challenges included severe weather destroying sets, Marlon Brando arriving overweight and unprepared, and Martin Sheen suffering a near-fatal heart attack.
- In 2000, it was selected for preservation in the U.S. National Film Registry for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”.
Our Review
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Apocalypse Now stands as a cinematic masterpiece, a visceral and psychological exploration of the chaos of the Vietnam War and the dark recesses of the human soul. The film’s quality is evident in its powerful performances, particularly from Marlon Brando and Martin Sheen, and its groundbreaking visuals that capture the surreal and haunting atmosphere of the war. While the storyline’s complexity and the film’s philosophical depth might not resonate with all viewers, the acting and visuals provide a compelling and immersive experience. Despite some criticisms of its pacing and the handling of thematic elements, Apocalypse Now’s impact on the war movie genre and its critical reevaluation over the years affirm its status as a monumental work in film history.
Critic Scores
Apocalypse Now has received a great review by the critics
