To End All Wars
Based on the late Ernest Gordon's 1962 book "Through the Valley of the Kwai" and directed with passion by David L. Cunningham, the $14 million "To End All Wars" tells the true World War II story of Gordon, an English prisoner of war who survived harsh treatment from the Japanese while laboring to build a railroad in the jungles of Burma-Siam (now Myanmar and Thailand).
An ensemble effort that recalls other great POW movies, "Wars" boasts many superb performances, starting with Ciaran McMenamin as Gordon, a member of a proud Scottish regiment that includes the uncompromising Col. McLean (James Cosmo) and fiery Maj. Campbell (Robert Carlyle). These three find themselves in a jungle camp loosely guarded but brutally run by Sgt. Ito (Sakae Kimura), who is assisted by noncombatant translator Takashi Nagase (Yugo Saso).
Barely kept alive, with malnutrition, disease and death all around, the prisoners are ordered to build a railroad in 18 months -- the same project that occupied the characters in the classic "The Bridge on the River Kwai". McLean does not survive a confrontation with Ito, and the role of prisoner leadership passes on to volatile Campbell.
The film does a less than perfect job of showing the passing of time, and the eventual revolt of Carlyle's raging character -- resulting in vicious killings and reprisals -- seems a bit tacked on. However, "Wars" is quite successful at showing how Gordon and less warlike companions like Dusty Miller (Mark Strong) use their minds and Christian faith to bend rather than break under the Japanese system of Bushido.
Gordon's relationship with Nagase also provides some relief from the humiliation, torture and summary executions of Ito. Along with Kimura's fierce performance, which amazingly does a lot to humanize the Japanese, veterans Shu Nakajima ("Akira Kurosawa's Dreams"), as the army official in charge of the railroad project, and Masayuki Yui ("Ran"), as the commander of the prison camp, have memorable scenes.
Evoking Steve McQueen and William Holden, Kiefer Sutherland is quite good in the lone American role. He transforms from a rogue bent on escape to a cowered, servile version of his former self after nearly dying from torture.
TO END ALL WARS
Argyll Film Partners in association with
Pray for Rain Pictures and Gumshoe Prods.
Credits: Director: David L. Cunningham
Screenwriter: Brian Godawa
Based on the book by: Ernest Gordon
Producers: David L. Cunningham, Jack Hafer, Nava Levin
Executive producers: Greg Newman, Scott Walchek
Director of photography: Greg Gardiner
Production designer: Paul Sylbert
Editor: Tim Silano
Costume designers: Tamra More, Rina Ramon
Music: Trevor Jones
Cast:
Ernest Gordon: Ciaran McMenamin
Maj. Ian Campbell: Robert Carlyle
Tom Reardon: Kiefer Sutherland
Dusty Miller: Mark Strong
Takashi Nagase: Yugo Saso
Sgt. Ito: Sakae Kimura
Col. James MacLean: James Cosmo.
Running time -- 116 minutes
No MPAA rating...
An ensemble effort that recalls other great POW movies, "Wars" boasts many superb performances, starting with Ciaran McMenamin as Gordon, a member of a proud Scottish regiment that includes the uncompromising Col. McLean (James Cosmo) and fiery Maj. Campbell (Robert Carlyle). These three find themselves in a jungle camp loosely guarded but brutally run by Sgt. Ito (Sakae Kimura), who is assisted by noncombatant translator Takashi Nagase (Yugo Saso).
Barely kept alive, with malnutrition, disease and death all around, the prisoners are ordered to build a railroad in 18 months -- the same project that occupied the characters in the classic "The Bridge on the River Kwai". McLean does not survive a confrontation with Ito, and the role of prisoner leadership passes on to volatile Campbell.
The film does a less than perfect job of showing the passing of time, and the eventual revolt of Carlyle's raging character -- resulting in vicious killings and reprisals -- seems a bit tacked on. However, "Wars" is quite successful at showing how Gordon and less warlike companions like Dusty Miller (Mark Strong) use their minds and Christian faith to bend rather than break under the Japanese system of Bushido.
Gordon's relationship with Nagase also provides some relief from the humiliation, torture and summary executions of Ito. Along with Kimura's fierce performance, which amazingly does a lot to humanize the Japanese, veterans Shu Nakajima ("Akira Kurosawa's Dreams"), as the army official in charge of the railroad project, and Masayuki Yui ("Ran"), as the commander of the prison camp, have memorable scenes.
Evoking Steve McQueen and William Holden, Kiefer Sutherland is quite good in the lone American role. He transforms from a rogue bent on escape to a cowered, servile version of his former self after nearly dying from torture.
TO END ALL WARS
Argyll Film Partners in association with
Pray for Rain Pictures and Gumshoe Prods.
Credits: Director: David L. Cunningham
Screenwriter: Brian Godawa
Based on the book by: Ernest Gordon
Producers: David L. Cunningham, Jack Hafer, Nava Levin
Executive producers: Greg Newman, Scott Walchek
Director of photography: Greg Gardiner
Production designer: Paul Sylbert
Editor: Tim Silano
Costume designers: Tamra More, Rina Ramon
Music: Trevor Jones
Cast:
Ernest Gordon: Ciaran McMenamin
Maj. Ian Campbell: Robert Carlyle
Tom Reardon: Kiefer Sutherland
Dusty Miller: Mark Strong
Takashi Nagase: Yugo Saso
Sgt. Ito: Sakae Kimura
Col. James MacLean: James Cosmo.
Running time -- 116 minutes
No MPAA rating...
- 12/4/2002
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
To End All Wars
The high-profile closing-night film of the fourth Method Fest, which is dedicated to showcasing the efforts of actors, "To End All Wars" is based on the true World War II story of English prisoner of war Ernest Gordon, who survived harsh treatment from the Japanese while laboring to build a railroad in the jungles of Burma-Siam (now Myanmar and Thailand).
Based on the late Gordon's 1962 book "Through the Valley of the Kwai" and directed with passion by David L. Cunningham, whose first film was the ambitious if not always successful 1998 Hawaiian drama "Beyond Paradise", the $14 million "Wars" (filmed mostly on the island of Kauai) has the elements of a prestigious limited release. It premiered at the 2001 Telluride Film Festival.
An ensemble effort that recalls other great POW movies, "Wars" boasts many superb performances, starting with Ciaran McMenamin as Gordon, a member of a proud Scottish regiment that includes the uncompromising Col. McLean (James Cosmo) and fiery Maj. Campbell (Robert Caryle). These three and many others find themselves in a jungle camp loosely guarded but brutally run by Sgt. Ito (Sakae Kimura), who is assisted by noncombatant translator Takashi Nagase (Yugo Saso).
Barely kept alive, with malnutrition, disease and death all around them, the prisoners are ordered to build a railroad in 18 months -- the same project that occupied the characters in the classic "The Bridge Over the River Kwai". McLean does not survive a confrontation with Ito, and the role of prisoner leadership passes on to volatile Campbell.
The film does a less than perfect job of showing the passing of time, and the eventual revolt of Caryle's raging character -- resulting in vicious killings and reprisals -- seems a bit tacked on. However, "Wars" is quite successful at showing how Gordon and less warlike companions like Dusty Miller (Mark Strong) use their minds and Christian faith to bend rather than break under the Japanese system of Bushido.
Gordon's relationship with Nagase also provides some relief from the humiliation, torture and summary executions of Ito. Along with Kimura's fierce performance, which amazingly does a lot to humanize the Japanese, veterans Shu Nakajima ("Akira Kurosawa's Dreams"), as the army official in charge of the railroad project, and Masayuki Yui, ("Ran") as the commander of the prison camp, have memorable scenes.
Evoking Steve McQueen and William Holden, Keifer Sutherland is quite good in the lone American role. He transforms from a rogue bent on escape to a cowered, servile version of his former self after nearly dying from torture.
The cinematography of Greg Gardiner ("Men in Black 2"), costumes and production design are all exemplary for such a modest budget. The real Gordon, who became dean of the chapel at Princeton University, is seen in a brief coda with the real Nagase at a memorial for those who did not survive the war.
TO END ALL WARS
Argyll Film Partners in association with
Pray for Rain Pictures and Gumshoe Prods.
Credits: Director: David L. Cunningham
Screenwriter: Brian Godawa
Based on the book by: Ernest Gordon
Producers: David L. Cunningham, Jack Hafer, Nava Levin
Executive producers: Greg Newman, Scott Walchek
Director of photography: Greg Gardiner
Production designer: Paul Sylbert
Editor: Tim Silano
Costume designers: Tamra More, Rina Ramon
Music: Trevor Jones
Cast:
Ernest Gordon: Ciaran McMenamin
Maj. Ian Campbell: Robert Carlyle
Tom Reardon: Kiefer Sutherland
Dusty Miller: Mark Strong
Takashi Nagase: Yugo Saso
Sgt. Ito: Sakae Kimura
Col. James MacLean: James Cosmo.
Running time -- 116 minutes
No MPAA rating...
Based on the late Gordon's 1962 book "Through the Valley of the Kwai" and directed with passion by David L. Cunningham, whose first film was the ambitious if not always successful 1998 Hawaiian drama "Beyond Paradise", the $14 million "Wars" (filmed mostly on the island of Kauai) has the elements of a prestigious limited release. It premiered at the 2001 Telluride Film Festival.
An ensemble effort that recalls other great POW movies, "Wars" boasts many superb performances, starting with Ciaran McMenamin as Gordon, a member of a proud Scottish regiment that includes the uncompromising Col. McLean (James Cosmo) and fiery Maj. Campbell (Robert Caryle). These three and many others find themselves in a jungle camp loosely guarded but brutally run by Sgt. Ito (Sakae Kimura), who is assisted by noncombatant translator Takashi Nagase (Yugo Saso).
Barely kept alive, with malnutrition, disease and death all around them, the prisoners are ordered to build a railroad in 18 months -- the same project that occupied the characters in the classic "The Bridge Over the River Kwai". McLean does not survive a confrontation with Ito, and the role of prisoner leadership passes on to volatile Campbell.
The film does a less than perfect job of showing the passing of time, and the eventual revolt of Caryle's raging character -- resulting in vicious killings and reprisals -- seems a bit tacked on. However, "Wars" is quite successful at showing how Gordon and less warlike companions like Dusty Miller (Mark Strong) use their minds and Christian faith to bend rather than break under the Japanese system of Bushido.
Gordon's relationship with Nagase also provides some relief from the humiliation, torture and summary executions of Ito. Along with Kimura's fierce performance, which amazingly does a lot to humanize the Japanese, veterans Shu Nakajima ("Akira Kurosawa's Dreams"), as the army official in charge of the railroad project, and Masayuki Yui, ("Ran") as the commander of the prison camp, have memorable scenes.
Evoking Steve McQueen and William Holden, Keifer Sutherland is quite good in the lone American role. He transforms from a rogue bent on escape to a cowered, servile version of his former self after nearly dying from torture.
The cinematography of Greg Gardiner ("Men in Black 2"), costumes and production design are all exemplary for such a modest budget. The real Gordon, who became dean of the chapel at Princeton University, is seen in a brief coda with the real Nagase at a memorial for those who did not survive the war.
TO END ALL WARS
Argyll Film Partners in association with
Pray for Rain Pictures and Gumshoe Prods.
Credits: Director: David L. Cunningham
Screenwriter: Brian Godawa
Based on the book by: Ernest Gordon
Producers: David L. Cunningham, Jack Hafer, Nava Levin
Executive producers: Greg Newman, Scott Walchek
Director of photography: Greg Gardiner
Production designer: Paul Sylbert
Editor: Tim Silano
Costume designers: Tamra More, Rina Ramon
Music: Trevor Jones
Cast:
Ernest Gordon: Ciaran McMenamin
Maj. Ian Campbell: Robert Carlyle
Tom Reardon: Kiefer Sutherland
Dusty Miller: Mark Strong
Takashi Nagase: Yugo Saso
Sgt. Ito: Sakae Kimura
Col. James MacLean: James Cosmo.
Running time -- 116 minutes
No MPAA rating...
- 5/16/2002
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.