Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg executive produced this epic mini series, which I guess was their follow up to Saving Private Ryan (of which today everyone seems to remember the first section but none of the rest). It follows the adventures of a troop of airborne soldiers from D-Day to the end of the war in Europe.
The first episode deals with basic training, with David Schwimmer as a bastard training instructor who is lousy in the field. Schwimmer is obviously a talented actor and his performance is fine, it’s just his mannerisms and voice are so distinctive it takes a while to forget Ross Geller.
Second episode is D Day, emphasising the confusion and sheer hard yakka that went into the battle. The big set piece is a raid on a series of German guns – this is terrifically exciting.
Episode three deals with attacks and counterattacks after D Day. The battle sequences are even better here. There is a subplot about a psychologically affected private, who really go through the gamut.
Episode four is Operation Market Garden, the battle that featured in A Bridge Too Far, and concentrates on new recruits joining the company. This was is less good, although the sequence where the Germans counter attack is very strong; all the new faces make this one particularly hard to follow. Also I don’t think Americans are that good on defeat (a reason why Operation Market Garden has rarely been covered by Hollywood).
Episode five involves a skirmish in Holland, focusing on the decent, brave officer of easy company. This was directed by Tom Hanks – was he attracted to this episode in particular by the Hanksian lead character?
Episode six is Bastogne. A strong episode – stunning snow-drenched visuals - where the famous Battle of the Bulge is given a fresh twist by being seen through the eyes of a medic. (Cue lots of bloody scenes in hospitals; as pointed out by Flashman, it’s hospitals which really remind you how horrible war is.)
Episode seven is the Ardennes – a follow up to Bastogne, involving the effect that shelling had on the men. (A morale low point for the men.) Its scene through the eyes of Don Wahlberg, whose sad eyes gives the drama extra resonance.
Episode eight is after Bastogne, when the end of the war is in sight, but the danger still great. It involves two newcomers to Easy Company – well one, really, a green lieutenant (Colin Hanks, who I don’t think I’ve liked in anything I’ve ever seen him in) and one who is coming back from a long stint in hospital and is resented by the men. The guts of the action centers around a patrol. It’s moving, exciting and depressing – reminiscent of Journey’s End in a good way.
Episode nine has Easy Company enter Germany. Ron Livingstone gets a chance to shine in this one after being a supporting character for the most part – he is about to have a nervous breakdown. This is also the first episode to have some breasts in it, which is reticent for HBO. But that’s early on – the guts of the story concerns a liberation of a concentration camp, which is incredibly powerful.
The final episode concerns the end of the war – visiting Hitler’s beautiful Eagle's Nest and occupation is over. Even though the Germans aren’t shooting you’re still on tenterhooks because you go “oh there’s going to be accidents” and there are. (One shocking moment a drunk Allied soldier shoots a member of Easy). However there are so many different characters you can’t help thinking “who is that guy” at times. Still, they keep coming up with great twists – like having a farewell speech spoken by a German officer to his troops, translated with our guys watching on.
The cast are full of vaguely familiar actors like Ron Livingstone and Dexter Fletcher, plus some future stars (James McEvoy, Simon Pegg, Jamie Bamber; Jimmy Fallon has a cameo). Sometimes it’s hard to tell who is who, especially with all those helmets, but the actors do a good job – they succeed in looking like 1940s kids, to my eyes anyway, and that’s something lacking in many modern day war films.
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