neumu [ cinematronic ]




	Gods And Generals
	Ronald F. Maxwell Jeff Daniels, Stephen Lang, Robert Duvall, Mira Sorvino, Kevin Conway, C. Thomas Howell, Frankie Faison, Kali Rocha, Mia Dillon 2003		Despite its maker's best intentions, the sober, incredibly lengthy "Gods and Generals" is a tedious film about the start of the Civil War, up to the Battle of Fredericksburg. It was written and directed by Ronald F. Maxwell, whose similarly epic 1993 film "Gettysburg" begins where this one leaves off. While "Gods and Generals" may be trying to evoke a grand vision of war, it focuses on Gen. "Stonewall" Jackson (Stephen Lang), his Confederate soldiers and the civilians in his life. The drama, biographical or historical, is leaden; the dialogue is portentous; and the performances are as oratorical as those in a pageant. The film ran almost four hours before some combat scenes were cut. At three hours-plus, it's still a wallow in detailed battle recreations, aimed at Civil War buffs who dress up to participate in detailed battle recreations. Jeff Daniels returns as U.S. Col. Joshua Chamberlain from "Gettysburg," looking older in "Gods and Generals" than he did in the earlier movie set later in the war. Robert Duvall plays Robert E. Lee as if reading cue cards. With puny parts for Mira Sorvino and Kevin Conway — and a gratuitous cameo by producer Ted Turner.