Take note everyone, there’s a good movie that most of us missed when it was in the theatres, but it’s now out on DVD.
American cinema is a bizarre creature. Usually, I have a good idea just from a trailer whether a film will be a hit or a gigantic miss. For example, I knew Pluto Nash was going to be a stinker. Eddie Murphy is arguably the funniest man alive, but even his name couldn’t raise that movie. More recently, I knew Hannibal Rising was a horrific idea. Why would someone consider a movie in that series without Sir Anthony Hopkins? Such a decision just screams of stupidity.
But sometimes I miss - I see a movie that I think will do very well at the box-office and it’s a flop. Flyboys is an example of a good movie that didn’t receive its proper notice while in theatres. Flyboys is the true story of the Lafayette Escodrille Airdrome. Specifically, this is the story of a handful of Americans in 1916 who enlisted to fly with the French against Germany in World War I. Now if you’ve forgotten your history, keep in mind that the Wright brothers had been practicing in Kitty Hawk only thirteen-years earlier, so airplanes were still very much a novelty. And also, the U.S. didn’t officially enter the fray until April 1917 and that is what makes the Americans that flew with the Lafayette Airdrome unique.
The story for Flyboys was written by veteran screen-writer David S. Ward (Sleepless in Seattle, and both Major League films) with some assistance from Phil Sears (Ripper Man) and Blake Evans (The District). Tony Bill (UC: Undercover, Felicity, Monk) surprised me as director. I rarely give television directors much credit, but Tony Bill brought an amazing vision and historicity to the project.
The beginning of the story is clichéd as we follow several young men from various parts of the U.S. as each comes to his decision to leave for France. We first meet Blair Rawlings (James Franco) in a small Texas theatre. He’s in trouble again with the local authorities so a trip to France seemed like the perfect escape. We next meet William Jensen (Phillip Winchester) boarding a train in Nebraska, with the approval of his parents and tears of his wife. We then find ourselves in a Parisian gymnasium watching Eugene Skinner (Abdul Salis) pummel another fighter in the ring. He leaves after his fight to learn to fly planes because he owes France a debt for treating him better than his own country, the United States. Finally, we meet Briggs Lowry (Tyler Labine) setting sail from New York. He has dropped out of Harvard and his father, an aristocratic Tim Pigott-Smith, is finished financing the family failure.
We follow these four young Americans as they arrive in France and try to find their way through Paris to their training camp. Upon arrival, the young men find their commander to be Captain Thenault (Jean Reno) and their squad leader is the mysterious and sullen Reed Cassidy (Martin Henderson).
At this point, the movie follows the typical form of training intermixed with light moments as the young men become friends and skilled fighter pilots. The film-makers are true to the training tactics of the French air-fighters and the men slowly learn how not only to fly and maneuver a bi-wing plane but also to dog-fight.
There are other pilots that have smaller roles such as Lyle Porter (Micheal Jibson), the religious fellow of the group who resembles a young Deitrich Boenhoffer. We also meet Eddie Beagle (David Ellison). Mr. Ellison has the distinction of being one of the few actual pilots among the group.
In fact, Mr. Ellison, son of Larry-I-Started-Oracle-Ellison, contributed much of the money for the production costs of Flyboys. And I can’t forget Blaine Rawlings’ French love interest, Lucienne, played by the lovely Jennifer Decker. We meet all of these characters and begin to see them as the naïve, idealistic Americans we all relate to.
But once the young Americans begin to fly missions and some of them fail to return, Flyboys takes a somber tone and the men begin to understand why, Reed Cassidy, their squadron commander, is quiet and rarely without alcohol in hand. And it is during the increasingly dangerous flights that Rawlings proves himself as an ace pilot and the leader of these young men. But Rawlings’ aerial acumen is little comfort as more of his friends are shot down by the Black Falcon, a German triple-ace.
Rawlings finds that only time away from the squadron, in the arms of Lucienne, help him forget the futility of war. But it is Cassidy that finally gets through to Rawlings’ idealism and cuts to the heart of soldiering: “Then you realize this war ain’t going to be won by either side. Someday it’ll just end. Everyone will go home and get on with their lives. Tall grass will cover the battlefields. And all the pilots we’ve lost won’t mean a damn thing.” His words are as true today as they were then.
Flyboys is a film about boys becoming men. It’s not a pro-or-anti-war movie. It’s a film about young men from wealth and poverty, black and white, Christian and non-believer, all together in a conflict. You see, for soldiers war is simply a fight for your bunk-mate. It’s not about ideologies or territorial infractions; for soldiers on the frontlines, war is about making sure your buddy gets home because you might not.
The extras on the single disc DVD (which was the version sent to me) include a few trailers and a feature commentary with the director, Tony Bill, and the producer, Dean Devlin. This was one of the most enlightening commentaries I’ve ever heard. I left the commentary with a new respect for Mr. Bill and his passion for the Flyboys project. It is obvious from the beginning of the commentary that Mr. Bill had an active role in all aspects of this film.
We also learn that the film, which has some wonderful scenery, was shot entirely on location in England. It may also interest many to know that this was the first feature film not to be shot on film. Mr. Bill goes into great detail about their use of the new Genesis digital camera and their excitement to move beyond celluloid.
The DVD is also available in a Two-Disc Collector’s Edition that is presented in the widescreen format and features English 5.1 DTS, English 5.1 Dolby Surround Sound, as well as French and Spanish 2.0 Dolby Surround and English and Spanish subtitles.
Special features on the Two-Disc DVD include audio commentary by director Tony Bill and producer Dean Devlin; Real Heroes: The Lafayette Escadrille featurette; The Diary of a Miniature Stunt Pilot spoof featurette; Whiskey and Soda – The Lion Mascots featurette; Taking Flight – The Making of Aerial Battle Sequences featurette; The Real Planes of Flyboys featurette; 15 minutes of Deleted Scenes; The Flyboys Ride With the Air Force Thunderbirds & The Navy Blue Angels featurette; Flyboys Squadron DVD-ROM game; and Theatrical Trailer
So what’s my final word? I can’t imagine that this film only made $6 million. Maybe as a nation, Americans are tired of the notion of war and fed up with anyone trying to peddle it to our children. Well, I assure you, I’ve been there and I’m no peddler. But I do believe in appreciating and honoring those that have gone before to illuminate our way. I encourage everyone to see this film, gain an understanding of our past and take the future from the hands of politicians.
Flyboys (Two-Disc Collector’s Edition) is now available at Amazon . As of yet, this version of the DVD is not available in the UK. Visit the DVD database for more information.
tshirtdoctorMay 5th, 2007 - 05:57:11
Excellent review of FlyBoys. It was an intensly moving film. Yet another reminder that freedom is not free.
I would highly recommend the film to anybody. The film's lack of commercial success rings a familiar chord: being in the right place at the right time does make a difference.
In a different era, this film might have been a real winner. Unfortunately the market said it wasn't great. I think the market is wrong and that this film shares great insight into humanity and passion.
Thank you for you review and keep up the good work.
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