Glory

Glory is, without question, one of the best movies ever made about the American Civil War.

An eloquent, heart-tugging Civil War epic about the first black infantry regiment to march off to battle for the Union. And epic is the word. Not since John Ford has a film maker created such dramatic large-scale Civil War battle scenes in a major theatrical film.

Glory ultimately offers a stirring answer to the historical distortions of Mississippi Burning, by presenting African Americans as people who aggressively participated in their own struggle for freedom. [12 Jan 1990, p.22]

Although the script is a conventional melodrama, the director, Edward Zwick, has made something more thoughtful than that.

Exceptionally well-rendered and emotive war drama.

A pretty watchable and always interesting period film, well photographed by English cinematographer Freddie Francis.

Though the film has an evocative look reminiscent of Matthew Brady’s period photographs, Zwick has stuffed the actors’ mouths with numbing bombast. Glory is a shame.

Glory marches out a journal entry filled with hard sweat, blood and tears to a historical story that is very unbreakable.

A Civil War epic, following the trials and tribulations of the first all-black regiment in US history. The troupe initially face enemies on both sides of the battlefield, but through such adversity comes dogged perseverance and they gradually convince their peers that not only is their cause a just one, but they all merit a role in the fight. Matthew Broderick is an unusual choice as the squad's tough, dedicated commander, only a few years removed from light-hearted comedy roles, and he isn't always convincing. The really meaty parts come from the troops themselves, anyway, and those ranks are filled out quite well. Morgan Freeman is excellent as the weathered voice of reason, a man who's seen the remnants of battle and tries to prepare the recruits for what's to come, but the standout performance belongs to a young Denzel Washington. As Private Trip, an escaped slave with a lifetime of pent-up anger that frequently threatens to swallow him, Washington's outbursts, protests, inner turmoil and ultimate vindication make up the film's lifeblood. Some of the battle scenes show their age, but that's not what it's about in the end, really. Heavy on the emotions and just a bit sappy, Glory is an important story done justice and a true dramatic powerhouse.

aż szkoda że tak mało filmów traktuje o tym pasjonującym okresie w historii USA

"Glory" is very fine history lesson that doesn't hold up as well. Denzel Washington is absolutely magnetic and the only thing elevating movie and giving it some life, definitely deserved the Oscar for the one single tear he sheds when his character is being whipped. I don't get at all why this was recently added in the National Film Registry, especially over FAR better more interesting films that came out in 1989 like "Cinema Paradiso," "Crimes and Misdemeanors" and Keneth Branagh adaptation of "Henry V."

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]