"Battleground" tells the story of the 'battered bastards of Bastogne'. These were the U.S. troops who held the besieged Belgian town of Bastogne in the middle of WWII's Battle of the Bulge. While the squad featured here is fictional the film was nevertheless lauded for it's accuracy in portraying the soldiers and their experiences.
Those familiar with the excellent mini-series "Band of Brothers" will already know something of the siege of Bastogne. I think that it would be unfair to compare "Battleground" to the two Bastogne-based "Band of Brothers" episodes but the film does provide an interesting counterpoint. Unfortunately, while the film was highly regarded in its own time due to its truthful depiction of U.S. soldiers, that approach has become so ingrained in war films since then that it is easy to take it for granted.
The cast is a decent one and includes a few familiar faces. James Whitmore landed a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination (and a Golden Globe win) but I don't think that I would single anyone out. In my mind, the cast is best appreciated as an ensemble.
The screenplay and cinematography were both rewarded with Oscars but I didn't really see anything particularly special about either. William A. Wellman also managed to snag a Best Director Oscar nomination for his workmanlike efforts. Rounding out the nominations were ones for editing and Best Picture. Enough to make it clear that the film shows considerable attention to detail in all areas.
In the end, I mainly recommend this film for "Band of Brothers" fans interested in another interpretation of the siege of Bastogne. The film remains an important milestone in WWII films but I would hesitate to include it in the upper echelon of war films.
Those familiar with the excellent mini-series "Band of Brothers" will already know something of the siege of Bastogne. I think that it would be unfair to compare "Battleground" to the two Bastogne-based "Band of Brothers" episodes but the film does provide an interesting counterpoint. Unfortunately, while the film was highly regarded in its own time due to its truthful depiction of U.S. soldiers, that approach has become so ingrained in war films since then that it is easy to take it for granted.
The cast is a decent one and includes a few familiar faces. James Whitmore landed a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination (and a Golden Globe win) but I don't think that I would single anyone out. In my mind, the cast is best appreciated as an ensemble.
The screenplay and cinematography were both rewarded with Oscars but I didn't really see anything particularly special about either. William A. Wellman also managed to snag a Best Director Oscar nomination for his workmanlike efforts. Rounding out the nominations were ones for editing and Best Picture. Enough to make it clear that the film shows considerable attention to detail in all areas.
In the end, I mainly recommend this film for "Band of Brothers" fans interested in another interpretation of the siege of Bastogne. The film remains an important milestone in WWII films but I would hesitate to include it in the upper echelon of war films.