Leading Ladies: August 2005

The Great Raid

Stars: Benjamin Bratt, James Franco, Connie Nielsen
Director: John Dahl
Rating: R

Once again this week, the female critics are divided. This fascinating, true and previously ignored by Hollywood story about a dramatic mission by World War II soldiers to save their fellow enlisted struck some of the critics as a well-told drama, and others as a by-the-numbers history lesson.

iVillage's Beth Pinsker says director Dahl, "a filmmaker known for sophisticated thrillers like The Last Seduction, treats this more like an independent film. He pays great attention to the dialogue and the acting."

But the Los Angeles Times's Carina Chocano says the movie is "a plodding, squeaky-straight Time-Life tribute to the greatest generation ... [and] plays like a commemorative plaque." And the Wall Street Journal's Joanne Kaufman says, "For all its noble intentions, its striving for authenticity, its unblinking look at the savagery of war, The Great Raid is far more dutiful than dramatic."

Female consensus: It's no Saving Private Ryan, but it'd be a really good History Channel special

next : The Skeleton Key