Welcome to Alternative to What: a weekly column that tries to find a great alternative to driving to the multiplexes. Based on releases of that week, the selections will either be thematically related or feature recurring cast and crew. The goal is to help you better understand the diversity of cinema and hopefully find you some favorites while saving a few bucks. At worse, this column will save you money. Expect each installment to come out on Fridays, unless specified.
THIS WEEK:
The Dirty Dozen (1967)
- Alternative To -
Fury (2014)
There's nothing new about war movies with ensemble casts. They have been around since the beginning of cinema itself. With films ranging from The Longest Day to Saving Private Ryan, there's something the idea of camaraderie driving a story with the more unruly a character is, the better. Even if war in general should be seen as a pejorative, it still is exciting to see exploits that put the audience in the face of danger without having to be there. To see a psychopath save the day is quite an exceptional aspect to cinema in general. It is likely what Fury is going to be driven on. The war drama that focuses on a group of tank soldiers already has gotten reviews for its notorious and rebellious attitude and stylized violence.
Still, in terms of memorable ensemble films full of masculine characters and violent undertones, few come as successful as The Dirty Dozen (which also serves as an outline to Inglourious Basterds). Lead by Lee Marvin, the troop of soldiers are made up of convicts and killers who have to work together to fight the Germans during World War II. Much like Fury, the final act involves a tank and a whole lot of explosions. The only difference? This insane piece of beauty is fictional and while based on certain stories, has no basis in history books.
The film as a whole is exceptional not only because of its ability to have adrenaline at every turn, but because the cast is so impressively strong. There's Marvin as well as Charles Bronson, Donald Sutherland, Jim Brown, and most importantly John Cassavettes as Victor Franko, who may be the craziest, greatest war psychopath to ever grace cinematic screens. While the film gets by for awhile on anarchy, it eventually straightens itself out and focuses the chaos into doing the unthinkable: outwitting their opponents.
The easy comparison could be that it is the war equivalent of The Wild Bunch. While this is partially because both feature a lot of similar actors including Ernest Borgnine, it is also because both have a nihilistic plea. They don't care if they die. They know that they're terrible people and deserve whatever fate they get. In fact, it makes the action and the meticulous third act all the more riveting. There's no censor on what can happen. Some live, but a lot of people will die. It's a war film full of tragedy. By the end, you'll feel sympathetic to the most deranged of soldiers, and that's quite an achievement. Most of all, it is about working as a team to overcome trouble. Luckily, it is a very patriotic one that makes The Dirty Dozen a little more acceptable.
Sure, there are some more literally similar films to Fury out there, but this epic is quite exceptional not only in entertainment value, but in cinematic and narrative quality. It is insane, but it can be touching. Much like the 70's New Hollywood movement that showed Robert Altman make his slightly inferior take on anarchic soldiers in MASH, it is a subject that continues to fascinate. These are real people after all and not just stick in the muds. What The Dirty Dozen gets right is giving everyone a personality and a memorable scene, creating empathy while realizing that war is hell and some people handle it differently.
The one common complain that I have heard towards Fury is that it is too sympathetic towards its tank crew. While I cannot bring in comment, it is reflective of how to make characters of a threatening nature compelling. Sure, there's Brad Pitt's charisma, but what else is keeping that film afloat? There has to be as much compassion as there is action, but there also has to be stakes. It is a strange formula that doesn't always work. However, if the film manages to be half as good as The Dirty Dozen, it might do well. However, Hollywood needs to learn to be less sympathetic just because there's a big name attached. Don't be afraid to get your hands a little messy.
Sure, there are some more literally similar films to Fury out there, but this epic is quite exceptional not only in entertainment value, but in cinematic and narrative quality. It is insane, but it can be touching. Much like the 70's New Hollywood movement that showed Robert Altman make his slightly inferior take on anarchic soldiers in MASH, it is a subject that continues to fascinate. These are real people after all and not just stick in the muds. What The Dirty Dozen gets right is giving everyone a personality and a memorable scene, creating empathy while realizing that war is hell and some people handle it differently.
The one common complain that I have heard towards Fury is that it is too sympathetic towards its tank crew. While I cannot bring in comment, it is reflective of how to make characters of a threatening nature compelling. Sure, there's Brad Pitt's charisma, but what else is keeping that film afloat? There has to be as much compassion as there is action, but there also has to be stakes. It is a strange formula that doesn't always work. However, if the film manages to be half as good as The Dirty Dozen, it might do well. However, Hollywood needs to learn to be less sympathetic just because there's a big name attached. Don't be afraid to get your hands a little messy.
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