Review: "The Fallen"
Morgan Schneider
Issue date: 1/31/08 Section: Arts
"The Fallen" is a small independent film set in World War II. Given its low production, it's hard to recommend this movie against the sea of other WWII films with a budget.
"The Fallen" attempts to make up for its simpleness by telling the story of the common soldier. The movie features a unique perspective by showing three sides of the war: the American, the Italian Social Republic and the Nazis.
The film is non-biased; it portrays the daily lives of soldiers in each army as WWII rages on around them.
But the constant alternating between each side is more confusing than enlightening. For the first half of the movie you cannot connect to the characters on the screen.
Some characters are just clichés bundled up in a uniform and told to act. For example there's the gun-crazy American, the bald strong guy and the tight-lipped officer.
The second half of the movie finally develops an emotional tie as the Americans advance around the failing German and Italian armies. The Italians and Germans are desperate, the Americans are scared, and you finally care.
And for caring you're awarded. Toward the end there are moments that really catch you up and make you glad you bothered to watch, but those scenes are too few and far between the monotony of the rest of the film.
"The Fallen" is unrated, but is no worse then daytime television.
"The Fallen" attempts to make up for its simpleness by telling the story of the common soldier. The movie features a unique perspective by showing three sides of the war: the American, the Italian Social Republic and the Nazis.
The film is non-biased; it portrays the daily lives of soldiers in each army as WWII rages on around them.
But the constant alternating between each side is more confusing than enlightening. For the first half of the movie you cannot connect to the characters on the screen.
Some characters are just clichés bundled up in a uniform and told to act. For example there's the gun-crazy American, the bald strong guy and the tight-lipped officer.
The second half of the movie finally develops an emotional tie as the Americans advance around the failing German and Italian armies. The Italians and Germans are desperate, the Americans are scared, and you finally care.
And for caring you're awarded. Toward the end there are moments that really catch you up and make you glad you bothered to watch, but those scenes are too few and far between the monotony of the rest of the film.
"The Fallen" is unrated, but is no worse then daytime television.
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