Gardens of Stone

Setting a film among the National Guard who bury the dead soldiers of America, you would expect the irony of them having to bury one of their own before film’s end - it’s practically a given. So naturally, the film starts with that and works its way backward.

Set in 1968-9, we are introduced to Jackie Willow (nicknamed Dildo) as he follows in his father’s footsteps by being a soldier. Posted to Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, he is keen to get on the frontline of the fighting in Vietnam. James Caan plays crusty lieutenant Clell Hazzard who has already served two tours in Vietnam and does everything he can to talk Dildo out it. Along the way, we meet Clell’s best friend James Earl Jones and Anjelica Huston as Clell’s love interest. Oh, and Mary Stuart Masterson as Dildo’s girlfriend.

"What is it now? I mean uh... you got all my money, you have my car. I suppose now you wanna borrow my dick so you can get laid?"

Perhaps because Dildo’s character is so lame, we spend more time with Mr Caan, and that’s a good thing. Tracking his relationship with Huston from awkward chitchat to live-in lovers, the film focuses more on their story. All the while, Dildo wants to get to Vietnam until finally, after he’s set himself up with a hottie and everything, he finally gets sent to that jungle nightmare.

Knowing from the beginning that he is fated to die in Vietnam, Dildo’s enthusiasm and gung-ho-ivityness seems so banal and worthless, and this is the message Coppola is trying to deliver; that of wasted youth, of wasted life. Coppola tells his story well here, and whilst the film isn’t of great appeal, I enjoyed it more than I expected to. For some reason, America seems to think we care about their soldiers and their armies and drown us in films like this one (see also Rules of Engagement and The General’s Daughter). While their war stories are interesting when actually involving war (i.e.: We Were Soldiers and Saving Ryan’s Privates) for the most part I don’t think many people could care. That being said, Gardens is a cut above the usual military fare, but is a little drawn out and sporadically told without a clearly visible passage of time.

There is barely an artefact to ruin the picture quality of this film. Whilst not featuring razor sharp definition, it is however quite clean and clear. There are instances of the shadows being a little deep and hiding their details and blacks are nearer to a deeper dark grey. Moments of graininess are few, though there are the odd couple in some interior shots and darker moments. For the most part the colour is okay and flesh tones are all natural looking. Some slight jittering occurs at 1:26:00 in the snow covered cemetery, but this is fleeting.

The music is a little strange in parts of this film and is even mildly overpowering occasionally. It’s okay though and fairly well delivered, but does dominate some scenes in which the dialogue should be the most important factor. On the subject of dialogue, some of this comes across a little muffled at times making it harder to understand. It’s well synched, however, and does play a little lower than the rest of the soundscape. As to sound effects, these are all fine and used sparingly.

Just three trailers for the films Birdy, Glory and Brian’s Song. Weak.

Again, this is another in a long line of US military films that focuses more on the war at home and the futility of a war like Vietnam. James Caan plays his role well, however, and he makes this film watchable, as does Anjelica Huston in an unusually toned down role. While not a spectacular film, it makes a good point about war and youthful exuberance as seen through the eyes of someone who’s been there and done that.

Running a tiny bit too long and not usefully portraying the passage of time makes the film just that little bit harder to follow and that, atop the ordinary script, makes this film okay but certainly not great by a long chalk.