Few filmmakers have tackled the subject of Borneo during World War Two – amazingly, I don’t think any Australian movie or TV show has, which is kind of embarrassing since we were the ones who led the invasion (it was an arguably pointless campaign but still even that would have made decent drama). It took John Milius, with his taste for less-explored detours in history, to bring it to the screen.
Unfortunately it’s one of his lesser works. The story isn’t strong, the characters aren’t interesting, and it lacks the humour and verve of his best writing. It's all too serious, which Milius tended not to be in the 70s. Maybe he was intimidated by the fact that so many war veterans were still alive when he made the movie - "oh, gotta be truthful". (Though this didn't stop him being irreverent in Apocalypse Now.)
The best bit is the first act, which tells how the US sergeant, Learoyd, went from deserter to king of the jungle. But even this is weakened by being told in flashback. Second act involves the Botanist (he's not given a name, a mistake I think - a British officer parachuted into the jungle) persuading Learoyd to fight (done quite easily), going back to base to get a treaty signed, then coming back and watching the Allies easily knock off some starving Japanese.
To give the thing a little pep, Milius throws in a third act about a unit of Japanese troops who are still well equipped and fed – they’ve turned cannibals, and their leader killed Learoyd’s mates back in the day. This does liven up the story, because it puts our leads under genuine threat.
Then there’s an epilogue where it’s revealed Learoyd and some people who joined him held out – now this was interesting. And around this point the story started to take on some sort of epic form. But it came too late.
I think maybe they should have told the first act as is, not in flashback; or gotten the Botanist and Learoyd to do more things together so their relationship has more kick. Or something, I don't know - but it doesn't work that well.
It doesn't help that Learoyd isn’t a particularly unique character though, certainly not like Kurtz or even Jeremiah Johnson. The Botanist is just this British dude who gets some jungle in his nostril and likes Learoyd. (Milius isn’t comfortable writing British). More noteworthy is Ferguson, the Botanist’s superior, who urges the Botanist to remain British. The women characters are dusky maidens, breasts swinging in the breeze, all up for some white cock – apart from a nurse at the end who falls for the Botanist, even though he’s clearly in love with Learoyd.
There’s plenty of Aussies in the script. The Botanist’s sidekick is an Aussie, as are several of the special services men who parachute it. And the soldiers who beat and kick Learoyd at the end are Australian – so it’s not like a valentine to us. Interesting to read, but not one of Milius' best.
No comments:
Post a Comment