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The Thin Red Line

The Thin Red Line

Drama · History · War · 1998

The story of a group of men, an Army Rifle company called C-for-Charlie, who change, suffer, and ultimately make essential discoveries about themselves during the fierce World War II battle of Guadalcanal. It follows their journey, from the surprise of an unopposed landing, through the bloody and exhausting battles that follow, to the ultimate departure of those who survived.

Movie details

The Thin Red Line

“Every man fights his own war.”

1998 Drama · History · War 2h 51m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.4 / 10

Community rating

The story of a group of men, an Army Rifle company called C-for-Charlie, who change, suffer, and ultimately make essential discoveries about themselves during the fierce World War II battle of Guadalcanal. It follows their journey, from the surprise of an unopposed landing, through the bloody and exhausting battles that follow, to the ultimate departure of those who survived.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over The Thin Red Line?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Terrence Malick

Written by

Terrence Malick

Jim Caviezel

Jim Caviezel

Pvt. Robert Witt

Nick Nolte

Nick Nolte

Lt. Col. Gordon Tall

Sean Penn

Sean Penn

1st Sgt. Edward Welsh

Ben Chaplin

Ben Chaplin

Pvt. Jack Bell

Elias Koteas

Elias Koteas

Capt. James Staros

John Cusack

John Cusack

Capt. John Gaff

Dash Mihok

Dash Mihok

Pfc. Don Doll

Court is in session

Put The Thin Red Line on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Ambition earns the room.”

The film reaches for consequence and scale, accepting the risk of seriousness instead of shrinking from it.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Importance has entered the chat.”

The production keeps announcing its significance, as though awards-season posture were proof of insight.