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A Midnight Clear by Stephen Farber Keith Gordon, who adapted A Midnight Clear from William Wharton's World War II novel, relies on far too much voice-over narration. Wharton's alter ego, the sensitive young soldier played by Ethan Hawke, does the incessant talking about the members of his platoon, recounting their past lives and describing their present reactions. For at least the first half hour, we feel that we're listening to an illustrated reading of the novel rather than watching a dramatic rendition. Finally, though, Wharton's story kicks in and mesmerizes us. Wharton, who also wrote the novels Birdy and Dad, drew this story from his own experiences in the final months of World War II. It centers on the unpredictable encounter between the American soldiers and a ragged German platoon. Gordon does a good job of conveying both the terror of the soldiers and their growing exhilaration at the prospect of rapprochement. The inevitable tragic misunderstanding carries an even stronger punch because of the hopeful mood that precedes it. While the antiwar message is familiar, it gains power from the deeply felt performances. What did you think of this movie? Sound off in the Movie Forum. |
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