Heartbreak RidgePosted by Martensen Rice on February 1st, 2021 As far as his political stance is concerned, Clint Eastwood is difficult to grasp: In view of films like "Mystic River" or "Million Dollar Baby", one would rather locate him in the democratic camp, numerous westerns and especially the "Dirty Harry" series seem more likely Conservative, republican. With "Heartbreak Ridge" from 1986, this question is superfluous: As director, producer and leading actor in one person, Eastwood presented himself as a cool, tough dog whose pithy slogans are as entertaining as they are reactionary. However, as long as you don't mind the glorification of the military, the one-man show Eastwoods is great fun. Tom Highway (Clint Eastwood) is a Gunnery Sergeant in the U.S. Marines who served in Korea and Vietnam. Maintaining emotional relationships is not easy for Highway, and his marriage to Aggie (Marsha Mason) also failed because of his preference for the military. Shortly before his retirement, the highly decorated patriot is assigned to a training camp, where he is supposed to whip up a particularly unmotivated unit. With his tough methods, Highway quickly encounters resistance, with the musician 'Stitch' Jones (Mario Van Peebles) in particular constantly upsetting him with his casual manner. But gradually the tough dog forces his men to respect, while his superior Major Powers (Everett McGill) would like to get rid of him. But even if Powers sees an obsolete model in Highway: When a revolution breaks out on the Caribbean island of Grenada, it is Highway that is supposed to intervene with its men and evacuate the US citizens living there. "Heartbreak Ridge" consists of two halves: training and commitment. But Zxcmovies is always on Eastwood himself. He is the anti-hero who is infectious and at the same time admired by everyone. As befits an edgy loner, he is both Constantly in conflict with subordinates as well as superiors, and is both physically and verbally rustic to the point: When Highway and the other veterans throw emphatically harsh male sayings around the ears, "Heartbreak Ridge" unfolds a peculiar charm that you hardly feel can withdraw. There is no question that the film, like the "Top Gun", which was made almost at the same time, is a somewhat cryptic advertising film for the American military. Eastwood shows the military as an institution in which tired men are put on their toes and individual heroism is capitalized provides the appropriate atmosphere, but the self-irony typical of Eastwood should not be missing. For example, as 'Stitch' at Highway, a magazine article with the title "Say you to your fellow man" discovered: Obviously the grumpy sergeant is working on his social Competencies. It is not only when he tries to get closer to his ex-wife that it becomes clear how much that Highway has to catch up in this regard. As entertaining as the first half is, with the onset of the Grenada invasion, "Heartbreak Ridge" clearly loses its quality. The conflict with the puppet government of the banana republic, which America fought out in the fall of 1983, which lasted barely more than a week, serves as a welcome reason, Highway and to let his men play war briefly. But the battle scenes and theater of war are so unexciting and harmless that one wonders why this finale was necessary. The previous conflicts in the training camp and highways, interpersonal problems, ex-wife and almost everyone else, indicated a substance that is now being sacrificed for the bold action, turning the ironic military drama into an action-heavy war film in which the veteran has to prove his fighting ability again.
Conclusion: Apart from the finale, "Heartbreak Ridge" is a successful military film with a humorous touch - unless you let yourself be put off by the politically incorrect slogans and the advertising for everything military. Unconditional Clint Eastwood fans will be thrilled anyway .
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