Windtalkers
The Players: Nicolas Cage, Christian Slater, Adam Beach, Frances O’Connor, Mark Ruffalo; directed by John Woo
The Skinny: Windtalkers tells the story of the Navajo Code Talkers, whose unbreakable military code helped the U.S. gain victory over Japan in World War II. Cage is a marine stationed in the Pacific during WWII who is asked to protect one of the “windtalkers” (Beach). It is also Cage’s duty to make sure the Japanese never capture the soldier–even if it means having to kill him himself.
The Bottom Line: Woo (Mission: Impossible 2) tries to deflect comparisons to other World War II films. He told Premiere magazine, “This [film] is horrifying but more like a documentary. I just want to send a message that war has to be stopped.” But can the public take on another WWII flashback? With Saving Private Ryan, The Thin Red Line and HBO’s most recent Band of Brothers, Windtalkers could be overkill. And what’s with Cage and WWII films this year (remember Captain Corelli’s Mandolin)?
Opens: Nov. 9
