Apocalypse Now
Francis Ford Coppola is usually known for The Godfather I and II, but this film is, if not better, definitely on the same level as them. Where The Godfather is controlled, precise, and calculated, Apocalypse Now is chaotic, obsessive, and unhinged.
One of the first things you notice right away is the absolutely mind-blowing visuals. The cinematography is beyond perfect, and 90% of the movie looks like it could be used as wallpaper. The lighting and composition are also amazing. The first half of the movie is lighter. We see the ocean, waves, and sun, and the overall tone is just warmer. Soon after, the film takes a darker look. The descent to madness is visually well represented using shadows, mascara on characters, and more action than ever. There are so many beautiful iconic scenes in this movie: "Ride of the Valkyries," a boat emerging from the flames, Willard in the river and so many more. Sound design is top-notch, and soundtracks are magnificent. Apocalypse Now is also an editing masterpiece. I read somewhere that Francis shot 240 hours' worth of footage that was cut down to 3 hours of final runtime. It took them 4 years, but it was worth every single second. The movie is shot in the Philippines, and the production did a hell of a job replicating the Vietnam setting so perfectly. Even the narration is perfect. The technical side of Apocalypse Now is 10/10.
Apocalypse Now is not a traditional war film, and it makes that clear early on. It is not glorifying heroism, nor does it focus on the action that you usually expect from a war film. We see the horrors of the conflict, a slow and terrifying descent to madness. For a movie with such an emotional load, it has very comic moments. The movie starts with horrifying narration about Vietnam and PTSD and is soon followed by Colonel Kilgore scenes. He is treated as a comic relief character. Tossing the cards on the dead soldiers, offering water to the deceased man only to take it away the moment someone offers him surfing, he is the embodiment of comedy in such a traumatizing movie. After that, the movie gets all dark and serious and never goes back. That is the moment we see the true horrors of the Nam. We see humans going insane, soldiers fighting without a leader, a bunch of escapees begging to go home, it's mental warfare out there. The final act begins when Willard finally reaches Kurtz, and the film’s rhythm changes completely. The film goes from a dark, action-packed pace to more surreal scenes and monologues. The film explores the reasoning behind Kurtz's actions. We see the change from once a respectable soldier to the man the US Army deemed dangerous. And the eventual conclusion tied the whole movie together perfectly. It was actually kind of unexpected, but just unreal. Willard’s final transformation is the emotional and thematic peak of the film. Emerging from the water with his face covered in war paint, expressionless and resolute, he no longer feels separate from Kurtz. The mission is completed, but nothing is resolved. The ending doesn’t offer closure, it leaves the viewer sitting with the weight of everything that came before it.
"I love the smell of napalm in the morning."
It's obvious that Willard and Kurtz are the main two characters, and Martin and Brando play them amazingly. But one character that caught my eye instantly and kept me on the hook was Kilgore. Robert Duvall was a generational actor, and he portrayed an arrogant, laid-back, AMERICAN colonel perfectly. His line deliveries and movement are so addicting to watch. He carried every single scene he was in. Him leading "The Ride of the Valkyries" scene is forever going to be imprinted in my mind. What sets Robert apart from other actors is how well he adapts to a character. Whenever I watch a movie, I see Al Pacino play Michael Corleone, and I see De Niro play Jake LaMotta, but "Robert Duvall" just disappears. You cannot convince me that Colonel Kilgore and Consigliere Tom Hagen are both played by the same actor. Rest in peace, legend.
It’s easy to see why Apocalypse Now is held in such high regard. It's a mind-blowing 3 hours that you will think about for the rest of your life. Coppola delivers a masterpiece once again.