Streamers – DVD Review

The Film:

War movies are always some of the harder types of movies to make. The fact that there are so many people that you want to please, but still stay on track and make a movie that’s enjoyable. Whether it’s the veterans of the war, the sympathizers, the anti-war buffs, or simply your regular everyday citizens; there are plenty different tastes that have to be satisfied. The DVD release of the 1980′s movie Streamers is a movie that doesn’t spend much of the effort on the violent part of war. It focuses on the preparation of four young U.S. Army recruits that are being shipped out to fight in Vietnam. During their time preparing, they must deal with each other’s personalities, beliefs, and differences. Roger (David Allan Grier) and Billy (Matthew Modine) struggle to accept their gay roommate, Richie (Mitchell Lichtenstein). The tension is even further because of Carlyle (Michael Wright), an angry young man who has nothing but rage against everyone. Also the two sergeants that are always drunk, Rooney (Guy Boyd) and Cokes (George Dzundza) play a major supporting role.

War movies are the types of movies that are very difficult to criticize because of the fact that they are always based off of true life and sometimes current stories. I would like to extend my best wishes to all the troops past and present for their bravery to fight for our freedom. With that said, the type of atmosphere that we get to experience in the movie is one that is very different. It focuses on the relationships and the bonds made between young soldiers instead of the war and fighting. That was something that I thought picked the film up a notch. Also, the addition of the problems of the times (Race, sexuality) are all very risk worthy things to add in to the melting pot. The movie never grabbed my attention fully, therefore I could not keep it there for the most part. I simply thought that there would be more fear from the fact of going to war rather than some of the other things. It was very hard to even continue watching without wondering what else was on.

Conclusion:

Despite all the components to make a good war movie (good performances, great plot) the movie failed to be very interesting.

Rating: