acoolsha
General entries
Spartan 14 February 07
Section: article
Categories: distraction / dvd
I had actually seen this film some time ago and forgotten about that when I rented it this time. Of course I noticed after a few seconds. That is interesting because I have a good memory for films, recalling details from films I saw as far back as the early sixties, and being able to recognize many films and filmmakers after seeing only seconds of a film, for example on television. But that largely only applies to good films.
This film is by David Mamet, and I usually like the way he consciously works with dialogue. But otherwise it is just chaff. The subject is essentially the ridiculous semper fi mystique of the US Marines. I don’t really know what Mamet was trying to do with the film, I think he was mainly attempting to add a semper fi theme to his resume. The theme of this film is along the cliched lines of the truly, deeply moral and “loyal” member of the armed forces who runs up against the corrupt hierarchy of his leadership, military and political, and has to strike out on his own. (Think of Rambo, etc.) First of all, that never happens. Anther cliche he indulges himself in is that they are supremely developed fighters: they are just mercenaries whose minds have been (further) softened by training designed to do just that, and they can only “conquer” from behind the skirts of the most massive and indiscriminate air bombardment of the target country chosen by their masters.
- Title: Spartan
- Directed by: David Mamet
- Starring: Tia Texada, Derek Luke, Val Kilmer, Jeremie Campbell, Bob Jennings (II)
- Year: 2004
- Further details: 107 minutes
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