Apocalypse Now (1979) Review

 

Apocalypse Now (1979)

If you know film, you know that this is considered one of the best movies ever created. Now, I finally can tell you why.

Apocalypse Now, set in 1970s Vietnam, focuses on Captain Willard as he is sent on a top secret mission into the heart of darkness to kill Colonel Kurtz, who has gone rogue and mad amidst the war.

In a world way before computer generated effects, this movie did something I’ve never seen on such a scale before. They made an entire 3+ hour movie full of practical effects that feels the most like maybe any war movie I’ve seen yet. Vietnam is such a hot topic for movies and while a lot of them are able to nail the look down, the feel is what’s missing, something not missing here. They were able to faithfully integrate helicopters, napalm strikes, and literal scenes of war, all while coordinating it down to the seconds, making the world building done here so immersive, almost like you’re there.

Next, it’s visually done so masterfully. Directed by the great Francis Ford Coppola and shot by Vittorio Storaro, Apocalypse Now looks like it was shot yesterday, with the film looking not only crisp, but damn good. One of the most beautifully shot films ever put to screen, with every single scene feeling like a piece of art in its own right. With each chapter of this movie, each section gets a whole new look and so by being able to pull that off with minimal special effects available, I am just stunned at how good it looks.

The editing is also top notch. With double layered fading, sometimes triple layered, it takes the film from great, to phenomenal. The shots line up and you really get the most out of the film with it being layered and edited in a way that brings these ridiculous visuals to the forefront.

The acting though, is what gives this film it’s heart and soul, with us tagging along on journey of discovery, filled with intense imagery, death, psychosis, and a whole lotta drugs. Martin Sheen puts in the role of a lifetime, with a stellar supporting cast of Robert Duvall, Dennis Hopper, and Sam Bottoms, that is capped off with the late Marlon Brando, who is terrifyingly intense in a way that is still inspiring actors today.

10/10