Oh, how I love a good war flick, and dislike a dodgy one.
Last night I watched "Regeneration", a 1997 WWI film, first time in ages.
Although based on a novel, the story also revolves around the true story of how Seigfried Sassoon and Wilfred Owen first met at an asylum near Edinburgh called Craiglockart. It was requisitioned for shell-shock victims of the Western Front.
There's an impressive cast: Jonathan Pryce plays psychologist Dr. William Rivers, James Wilby as Sassoon and Jonny Lee Miller who plays the disturbed Billy Prior. Some of the character development is biting yet poignant. During a consultation between Rivers and Prior, the psychologist looks up and says quietly: "It's funny how you don't stammer..." and Prior retorts, " I find it even stranger that you DO!" The dialogue is simple but hard hitting. Rivers realising he is reflecting traits of his patients, wanly confides in a colleague and confesses: "We're in charge, but not in control."
Unlike many other war films it isn't lashed with the usual cliched characters, and only very occasionally flashbacks to the trenches as a backstory to the main protaganists.
If you like your films to be thought provoking, allied to a very good script, acting and characters then "Regeneration" is likely to be a good watch, especially with its haunting music and wonderful location.
This has been the biggest influence on my fledgling hobby of screenwriting. Is it one of the greatest films? certainly up there with the best...
Last night I watched "Regeneration", a 1997 WWI film, first time in ages.
Although based on a novel, the story also revolves around the true story of how Seigfried Sassoon and Wilfred Owen first met at an asylum near Edinburgh called Craiglockart. It was requisitioned for shell-shock victims of the Western Front.
There's an impressive cast: Jonathan Pryce plays psychologist Dr. William Rivers, James Wilby as Sassoon and Jonny Lee Miller who plays the disturbed Billy Prior. Some of the character development is biting yet poignant. During a consultation between Rivers and Prior, the psychologist looks up and says quietly: "It's funny how you don't stammer..." and Prior retorts, " I find it even stranger that you DO!" The dialogue is simple but hard hitting. Rivers realising he is reflecting traits of his patients, wanly confides in a colleague and confesses: "We're in charge, but not in control."
Unlike many other war films it isn't lashed with the usual cliched characters, and only very occasionally flashbacks to the trenches as a backstory to the main protaganists.
If you like your films to be thought provoking, allied to a very good script, acting and characters then "Regeneration" is likely to be a good watch, especially with its haunting music and wonderful location.
This has been the biggest influence on my fledgling hobby of screenwriting. Is it one of the greatest films? certainly up there with the best...