Patton is a movie that’s been on my to do list for a long time, and as good a movie as any to be my first classic review. A character study like no other, Patton follows the tale of the most battle hungry, mad-dog general America ever had the pride to produce. Over this three hour long saga we watch Patton emerge victorious in Africa, Sicily, and finally in the very heart of Europe. We see how the Germans feared him all the way up to the man they called genius (Rommel) and we see how the Allies feared him even more, or at least his temper and unrestrained tongue. But this isn’t a review of the man; it’s a review of the movie.
There’s no real plot to be found here, but that’s good. This was set out to be historically accurate from the beginning, and to really get inside one of the most famous American general’s head. But, this is the major thing that stopped me from completely enjoying the movie. It simply isn’t entertaining. It’s powerful, it’s interesting, but it isn’t entertaining. I’d almost call it a documentary. And in that area it excels.
George C. Scott delivers his famous performance brilliantly. We are completely able to see the struggle Patton constantly lived with, between his own ferociousness, his foolish actions when not in combat, his odd beliefs, and his passion for war both past and present. All of the other actors on screen truly shrink to insignificance which is exactly what this movie demands of them. We’re not here to worry about his friend Bradley or his rival Montgomery. At no point do we see a side of Patton we aren’t meant to, the performance is flawless and I am left respecting the character, and yet understanding his flaws.
The brief action scenes give us the best sense of the way the war looked through Patton’s eyes. There’s no focus on the individual soldier, there’s no focus on heroes, simply the movements of the troops and the command of the setup, Patton’s own role. This is an interesting departure from the majority of war movies we are presented with, where we get the common man’s view of the battlefield and see his trials and struggles. Patton presents us with the view from the top down, a view I haven’t seen in any other movie and at that it is quite interesting and worth watching.
As a war movie this does not stand out. It will not thrill you with action or drama. What it does do is impart respect for an historical figure that cannot be denied. We are shown the way one man fought for his rightful place in history, and struggled to be able to keep his own flaws from getting in the way of his serving the world the only way he could, as a commander. This epic film teaches you everything you need to know about Patton and gave me a soft spot for him on the list of famous soldiers. If you’re looking for a fun time watching a movie, this isn’t the place to go. But if you’re looking to get deep into the character of one strong, foolhardy man, this movie does it flawlessly. I recommend seeing it once, but in the end, it’s probably best to keep it to only once. Patton earns a 7/10 as a movie, but earns a 10/10 as a character study.
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