Apocalypse Now Review: A Descent Into the Heart of Darkness
9/10 — Apocalypse Now (1979)
Pros
- Astonishing set pieces
- Superb cinematography
- Duvall and Brando are memorable
Cons
- Uneven final act
- Limited Vietnamese perspective
Captain Willard, played by Martin Sheen, is sent up a river in Vietnam to assassinate the renegade Colonel Kurtz, played by Marlon Brando. Loosely based on Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, the production was infamously chaotic.
What works
The helicopter attack set to Wagner and Robert Duvall’s ‘I love the smell of napalm’ are unforgettable, and Vittorio Storaro’s cinematography is outstanding. The journey grows more surreal and menacing, and Brando’s Kurtz casts a long shadow.
Where it falters
The final act in Kurtz’s compound is rambling and uneven, and the film’s depictions of Vietnamese people are limited.
Verdict
A monumental, disturbing piece of filmmaking. Flawed, but unforgettable.
