• The Thin Red Line (1998)

    In 1942, Private Witt (Jim Caviezel) is a U.S. Army absconder living peacefully with the locals of a small South Pacific island. Discovered by his commanding officer, Sgt. Welsh (Sean Penn), Witt is forced to resume his active duty training for the Battle of Guadalcanal. As Witt and his unit land on the island, and the American troops mount an assault on entrenched Japanese positions,...

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The Thin Red Line
78
metacriticBased on 32 Critics
82
Based on 222 Users

Release Date: December 23rd, 1998

DVD Release Date: November 2nd, 1999

R |2 hr 50 min

Plot Summary

In 1942, Private Witt (Jim Caviezel) is a U.S. Army absconder living peacefully with the locals of a small South Pacific island. Discovered by his commanding officer, Sgt. Welsh (Sean Penn), Witt is forced to resume his active duty training for the Battle of Guadalcanal. As Witt and his unit land on the island, and the American troops mount an assault on entrenched Japanese positions, the story explores their various fates and attitudes towards life-or-death situations.

Cast: Sean Penn, Adrien Brody, Jim Caviezel, Ben Chaplin, George Clooney, John Cusack, Woody Harrelson, Elias Koteas

Director: Terrence Malick

Genres: War , Historical drama

Production Co: Phoenix Pictures, Fox 2000 Pictures

Keywords: Intense, Sacrifice, 1940s, Escape

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Ratings & Reviews

  • 100
    Michael WilmingtonChicago Tribune

    One of the most curious and perversely brilliant films ever made in the American studio system. It's a shining example of qualities we don't normally see in our big theatrical pictures: vast ambition, huge resources and technical genius mated to a unique and compelling vision of life. show more

  • 100
    Mick LaSalleSan Francisco Chronicle

    Unique and courageous. It may be counted as one of the year's few steps forward in cinema. show more

  • 100
    Elizabeth WeitzmanNew York Daily News

    Here is something great and startling -- not necessarily the kind of comforting, consensus-creating film that wins Oscars, but unquestionably a movie that will live in the history of the medium. show more

See all critic reviews on metacritic.com

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Awards

Nominated Writing (Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published)
Oscars Academy Awards (1998)
Nominated Film Editing
Oscars Academy Awards (1998)
Nominated Sound
Oscars Academy Awards (1998)
Nominated Cinematography
Oscars Academy Awards (1998)
Nominated Music (Original Dramatic Score)
Oscars Academy Awards (1998)
Nominated Best Picture
Oscars Academy Awards (1998)
Nominated Directing
Oscars Academy Awards (1998)