Rakesh's movie talk
Kelly's Heroes (1970)













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Directed by Brian G. Hutton
Starring: Clint Eastwood, Telly Savalas, Don Rickles and Donald Sutherland

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When I saw the movie...again.., I realised something - the movie is funnier than it was the last time around. How did that happen? Maybe I grew older. Or maybe, I have learned to appreciate the talents of those other than Clint Eastwood.

To be honest, this is not your typical Eastwood fare. Sure, he does have his usual diet of dead bad guys, but the movie belongs in its entirety to the heroes of his namesake, Kelly. It belonged to Savalas, Sutherland, and Rickles.

This can be the film that ended many excellent war movies that came up to that time, for a simple reason - it is not exactly about war (WWII, in this case). Its about greed and it may or not be relevant to that period or situation. Make analysis of this film and its relation with the real war of the time it was made (Vietnam), and you are in for a disappointment. It ain't no Platoon or Apocalypse Now. It is Ocean Eleven set in war field. It is more than that. It is about adventure. Its a heist caper.

Damn, it took me so long to find that word. So, this caper would not have been fun without the participation of the excellent cast. Sutherland, in particular, stands out as Oddball, and watch out for his dog barks. The score is out of place, cheesy, but remember this is not Saving Private Ryan. It is generous on laugh and high on excitement. And, as I said before, we get plenty of bad guys with bullets in their guts, courtesy of Kelly and his heroes.