A Bright Shining Lie

Decent little known Nam movie...
I read all the reviews that were submitted...interesting. Valid points include that this film attempts to follow the tumultous life of a man of uncomprimising nature as well as an uncanny military genius w/ mixed success. Less credible are the Vann's "grandson" comments on his distain for interracial sexual relations(?), and "there's not enough action". Many Vietnam movies tend to focus on the extremes of human emotion and visceral narration (i.e grunts, fighter jocks, spec. ops. etc). If you are seeking the emotional impact and bullet time of Platoon or Apocalypse Now you won't find it here.

This movie focuses on the broader issues of the conflict, South Vietnamese corruption, U.S military leaders' ineptitude in combating guerilla warfare, and the evolution of the press affecting American sentiment toward to the long course of war. Corrupt South Vietnamese cadre, themselves products of colonialism, whose elitism pushed to average Vietnamese into the waiting arms of the...

Fantastic of Vietnam era depiction advisor to near end.
1. The story takes place during the Vietnam Conflict in Southeast Asia when the world was experiencing trying yet exciting times. A country of peasant people whose leadership along with U.S. policy was corrupt. Policy appeared to be formulated to fool or misguide the people of which the survivors would inevitably have to try and build a future society. 2. The movie is trying to show us the positive and the negative side of human nature and the constant struggle between the two cultures with the Vietnamese people trying to survive. John Paul Vann helps us understand that a leader is human and may have character flaws. His decisions were subject to the situation and political policy in the same manner as the rest of us. The story also accurately depicts the conflict and the effects of divisiveness within our society. I think the author convincingly developed the story well by gradually challenging the legitimacy and goals of U.S. policy from the time of the advisor...

Less than satisfactiory film version of the book
This is a well-intentioned biopic of John Paul Vann [Bill Paxton], a fascinating man who was intimately involved in the Vietnam War, both as a soldier and a civilian. It is a less than satisfying film because it attempts to cover much of our involvement in Vietnam [1962-1972] while simultaneously conveying a lot about Vann's personal life. For example, Vann was a womanizer. We see him with his wife and children in America. During his first tour of Vietnam, he takes up with a Vietnamese school teacher. His wife eventually divorces him. Later, he meets and marries another Vietnamese girl. These events by themselves could make for a complicated movie. "A Bright Shining Lie" also shows many of the highlights of the war, which itself is an even more complicated drama. The story is better suited to a miniseries. For more than a `Cliff's Notes' view, read the excellent book by Neil Sheehan upon which it is based.

Paxton is fine as Vann, but there are no pivotal scenes that define the...

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