Band of Brothers - Part I

Band of Brothers

Director: Phil Alden Robinson (Part 1), Richard Loncraine (Part 2), Mikael Salomon (Part 3), David Nutter (Part 4) and Tom Hanks (Part 5)

Year: 2001

Starring: Damian Lewis, Ron Livingston, Donnie Wahlberg, Scott Grimes, Matthew Settle and 

Neal McDonough

     There is literally nothing I can say about Band of Brothers that hasn't been said before. It is literally one of the finest war movies ever made. Yes it's actually a 10 part miniseries, but I've always seen it as a 10 hour movie. It technically doesn't fit the criteria for this list, but this production is just too epic to not be included. 

     The mini-series is based off the book of the same name by Stephen E. Ambrose, and it's about the exploits of "Easy Company" of the 101st Airborne. Easy Comany was one of the most prolific regiments in the European campaign. Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg's (although most of the work was actually done by Hanks and Erik Jenderson, with Spielberg basically just attaching his name to the title) true colours are shown in this production, because it's evident right from the start how much time and energy they spent adapting the novel. The put it simply, they didn't fuck around with this one. 

     The first episode starts with the introduction of all the major characters we'll see through most, if not all, the episodes of the series. Acting as a framing character in every episode, Damian Lewis plays Richard Winters, the (after episode 2 Day of Days) commanding officer of Easy Company. Lewis gives what I would regard as his greatest performance, and his defining role. He's known these days in an equally awesome (but drastically different) role on Homeland. Several episodes actually focus on him, but his involvement in each can change, and it lets other characters have their moment. 

     That's one of the best elements of this series: the characters. We get to know so many different members of Easy Company, especially during the first episode when they are at the training grounds. The first is actually played by David Schwimmer (yeah, Ross from Friends). Herbert Sobel was Easy's original commanding officer, who was quickly replaced before the D-Day invasion. Schwimmer actually does a decent job, but after this episode, you're relieved he only shows up in small cameos in later episodes. Ron Livingston plays Lewis Nixon, another Easy Company commander, and Winter's confidant. He doesn't take part in the actual combat, preferring to stay behind the scenes so to speak. The chemistry between Lewis and Livingston feels really natural, and you get a sense that these two are really friends. They have their moments, and a lot of the humor actually come from these two character's exchanges. 

     The second episode begins with the D-Day invasion, and it's easily one of the most memorable moments from the entire series. The episode follows Winters' jump, and rendevous with men from his unit. From there they proceed to find others, and accomplish their various missions. Andrew Scott has a small role in this episode, and he would achieve greater fame for playing Jim Moriarty on Sherlock. The episode ends with Easy Company taking out a battery of German Artillery. 

     Episode 3, titled Carentan, is about the capture of the French town of the same name. Carentan was a strategic military stronghold, and if the allies had control of it, it would create a seamless link between Utah and Omaha beach. Easy Company captures the town. This episode centers heavily on a soldier named Albert Blithe, and it tells both stories simultaneously. In the end he is shot in the neck and taken out of commission. The series incorrectly states he dies in 1948, but research revealed that he actually survived and died almost 20 years later. Inconsistencies were bound to happen, but the Blu - Ray release has a new documentary explaining, including Blythe's death, the various inconsistencies. 

     Episode 4, Replacements, is where the writing really starts to hit you. After all the events of Carentan, Easy Company has had expected casualties. Familiar characters have died, and new soldiers are brought in to join the ranks. The veterans of D-Day are initially hostile towards these soldiers, and as a viewer, you find yourself not taking too kindly to these characters as well. It shows how well you got to know the characters, and like Easy Company, you felt like you were a part of this brotherhood. This episode also takes the soldiers out of Normandy and beings the failed Operation Market Garden. James McAvoy has a small role in this episode, but sadly perishes as quickly as he arrives. 

     Episode 5 Crossroads deals with Operation Pegasus, a rescue mission involving the Canadian Engineers. It's actually over pretty fast, and the majority of the episode, actually told in a flashback as Winters writes a report, is about fighting the remaining German resistance. It's pretty exciting, and creates a moment that starts to define Winters. He constantly  has flashbacks after shooting a German teenage soldier at the beginning of the episode, and it's something that becomes a recurring character trait in the rest of the series. Winters has to deal with his actions, and enhances his character even more, creating a lot more depth for him.

Be sure to check out Part II on the last day of our Month of Remembrance