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Memphis Belle follows the last mission of a B-17 Flying
Fortress crew as it prepares to finish its 25-mission tour
and return to America.
The young men of the crew are eager to get out of the war
but each realises that anything can happen on the final run
and tries not to think of the next target. They are hoping
for a milk run over occupied France, but instead draw the
short straw of a highly dangerous strike on Bremen - a German
city heavily defended by anti-aircraft guns and beyond the
range of Allied fighters.
The first 40 minutes of this engaging war movie focuses on
the members of the crew and the pressures each face. It also
shows the camaraderie that has built between the diverse personalities
during their 24 missions together and really draws you into
caring for them.
Matthew Modine is the do-it-by-the-book pilot, Eric Stoltz
is the communications operator, Billy Zane a Clark-Gable lookalike
bomb aimer, DB Sweeney the navigator and Tate Donovan the
resentful co-pilot. Other flight members are excellent, as
are David Strathairn as the airbase's commanding officer and
John Lithgow as the non-thinking military PR man.
After take-off Memphis Belle really begins to build
pace and it's action aplenty as German fighters and flak guns
try to bring down as many of the heavily armed bombers as
they can.
The action scenes are terrific and the various ways the aircrews
could die show why so many perished in wartime. It is tension
to the max and the final 20 minutes of the movie will have
you sweating in your goggles.
Visually, Memphis Belle was a little hit and miss.
The close ups inside the planes were stunning, with peeling
paint and scratch marks evidence of razor sharpness, but there
were times during the long shots when it seemed to be lacking
body and contrast.
However, to not get hold of a copy of this exceptional tale
on those grounds would be doing adventure/action lovers a
disservice. This is one of the best war movies made and will
have you hanging up your parachute and just staying strapped
in for the ride.
Conclusion: Movie 85%, Extras 40%
Continued:
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