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Michael J. Fox, Sean Penn, Don Harvey, John C. Reilly, John Leguizamo ... see more see more... , Thuy Thu Le , Erik King , Jack Gwaltney , Ving Rhames , Dale Dye , Sam Robards , Darren E. Burrows , Ba Thuan T. Le , Ennalls Berl , Brian DePalma , Woody Harrelson , Sherman Howard , J.J. , Steve Larson , John Linton , Dan Martin , Holt McCallany , Wendell Pierce , Vyto Ruginis , Al Shannon , Kady Tran , Marius Valainis , Art Linson , J. Chalerm , Kristopher Dunn , Scott Gregory , Hataya Sarmount , Shane Kerwin , Kwan , Niran Sattar , Nootch , Po Powpi , Shaun Shea , Phi Beta Sigma , Somsak , Vinh Tran , Donal Gibson , Micheal J. Fox

Casualties of War was based on a New Yorker article by Daniel Lang. This, in turn, was inspired by a true incident which illustrated the dehumanizing aspects of the Vietnam experience. Michael J. Fox ... read more read more...plays Eriksson, a member of an American squadron stationed in the deepest jungles of Southeast Asia. Sean Penn co-stars as Meserve, the squadron sergeant, who vows revenge after his best friend is killed. He orders his men to invade a village and "requisition" a young Vietnamese girl (Thuy Thu Lee), who is repeatedly tied, gagged and gang-raped. The horrified Eriksson refuses to participate in these atrocities, and he does his best to console the girl and to attempt to free her. Before this can happen, however, Meserve orders another man to kill the girl. Once he returns to camp, Eriksson attempts to file a report on the tragedy and to bring Meserve and the others to justice, but he is stonewalled by the brass and threatened with death by his fellow soldiers. Eventually Meserve and his co-conspirators are jailed for their crimes, but Eriksson can never forget his "compliance" in the incident by failing to save the girl. The script is by well-known playwright David Rabe. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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70% liked it

20,592 ratings

Critics

83% liked it

30 critics

R, 1 hr. 54 min.

Directed by: Brian DePalma

Release Date: January 1, 1989

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DVD Release Date: December 11, 2001

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Stats: 802 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (802)

  • fb100002359227440
    March 19, 2012
    fb100002359227440
    A scary and tense war film.
  • fb1664868775
    December 11, 2011
    fb1664868775
    DePalma's epic war film explores the dark sides of men in combat and features many outstanding performances.
  • TheDudeLebowski65
    December 11, 2010
    TheDudeLebowski65
    Based on an actual incident during the Vietnam War, Casualties Of War is the shocking true story of four men who raped and murdered a Vietnamese girl. The film stars Michael J. Fox as Pfc Eriksson, the new recruit in Vietnam who witnesses the crime. Sean Penn stars as Sgt Meserve... read more, the antagonist of the film and he gives one brutal performance here, I thought it was very chilling. Eriksson seeks to report the matter to his superiors, but none seem to care. Meanwhile Meserve orders one of the men who participated in the rape to kill Eriksson, but he escapes. Eriksson soon talks about the incident to a superior who is also a priest. The military takes action against the men, and they get a harsh sentence. This is a film that came out during the height of the Vietnam war film craze of the late 80's, but it seems to be forgotten. Casualties Of War is a good film, but it's definitely one of the weaker Vietnam War films to come out in this period. The film is no Platoon or Full Metal Jacket. The film started off very promising, but it kind of ended flat. The film feels almost unfinished and I think the ending could have been better, sure the criminals get punished, but the filmmakers could have done something a bit more solid than the ending on the bus. However the film aside from the ending has a two things going for it, Ennio Morricone's solid score and Brian Depalma's near flawless directing. Casualties Of War is a good war drama, but its the best out there, at times the script feels strained and it seems that they tried to make nearly every seen very overly sentimental, more than they needed to be. But this is still a film worth watch, hard to watch, but good nonetheless. The biggest problem with the film is that it tries too hard to imitating the Vietnam War film greats by overdoing the drama. A good film, but not one of the best Vietnam War films.
  • movieguru12
    November 20, 2010
    movieguru12
    The story of an actual incident that happened in Vietnam on October 18, 1969 of four soldiers who raped & murdered an innocent Vietnamese girl & how one soldier, Eriksson (played very well by Michael J. Fox) didn't participate & rightfully turned in the responsible. Very good mov... read moreie replication of this event in accurate detail. This movie is not for those with a weak stomach, so if rape & murder bother you don't watch this but if it doesn't watch to see this bad stuff over in third world countries that is still going on in our world today. Excellent acting by Michael J. Fox in his role as a serious soldier.
  • ythelastman89
    March 30, 2010
    ythelastman89
    I think that itā??s probably the worst war movie that came from the Movie Brats, but itā??s not a bad film by any stretch. The poor acting from Michael J. Fox really brings the feel of the movie down, as well as the cheesy dialogue. I think Sean Penn was phenomenal and perhaps th... read moree greatest element of the film, he brings psychopath to an entirely new level. What I liked most was the overall message about war and soldiers in general. I think that Brian De Palma really didnā??t have much to work with, but still managed to make an above average war film.
  • flixsterman
    December 13, 2009
    flixsterman
    Stunning performances from Sean Penn (as expected) and Michael J. Fox (completely unexpected). An underrated and disturbing Vietnam war film based on actual events.
  • SirPant
    September 24, 2009
    SirPant
    An underrated war film with an impressive cast.
  • garyX
    December 1, 2008
    garyX
    When a group of soldiers in Vietnam on long patrol kidnap, rape and murder a village girl, new recruit Michael J. Fox finds no-one will listen when he tries to report the crime to his superiors. Casualties Of War is a shocking story that is based on true events and Fox's attempt ... read moreto become a "serious" actor. It is well meaning, and Thuy Thu Le puts in a heart breaking performance as the victim but the film as a whole does not quite work. De Palma does not have the subtlety or sensitivity to do the material justice and although Fox tries his best, he does not have the dramatic range to convince in the main role. The other characters are pretty much all very familiar stereotypical grunts and the dialogue feels forced and unnatural. The contrived and cornball ending certainly doesn't help either. It's a nice try at representing a situation where all sense of right and wrong seems at odds with an everyday reality that consists of murder and death but I feel it would have been better served in different hands and it lacks the necessary intensity of some of the better Vietnam war based films.
  • pier007
    September 5, 2008
    pier007
    A touching Vietnam movie. Big in scope and range, thanks to De Palma's bold cinematic tricks, Stephen Burum's cinematography and Ennio Morricone's score, which, as a matter of fact, is not one of his best, but it works.
    I don't agree with people that say Michael J. Fox was miscas... read moret, I think his childish 'eternally young' looks served him in this contained, human, agonizing performance; and
    Sean Penn was as amazing as he always is when he plays profoundly immoral characters.
  • RossCollinsUK
    December 30, 2007
    RossCollinsUK
    Hard-hitting war flick telling the story of a group of soldiers who kidnap and rape a Vietnamese girl. Too slow at times for me.

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Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy
April 23, 2011
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

This Vietnam War saga, inspired by a true story, is among De Palma's better pictures, devoid of his usual gimmicry and cynicism. Full Review

Brian Orndorf
August 26, 2009
Brian Orndorf, BrianOrndorf.com

It's a fat glop of obvious screen manipulation that preserves a frightening human core, making the life and death struggle all the more shocking. Full Review

Eric Henderson
September 6, 2006
Eric Henderson, Slant Magazine

De Palma uses his consummate filmmaking skill to craft a reflection of his own grave sorrow about the Vietnam era. Full Review

Jeffrey M. Anderson
August 28, 2006
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid

Fox is quite touching here, topped only by Sean Penn in a superb, frightening performance. Full Review

Steve Crum
June 8, 2006
Steve Crum, Dispatch-Tribune Newspapers

Disturbing anti-war film with strong Sean Penn and surprisingly effective Michael J. Fox.

Don Willmott
March 4, 2006
Don Willmott, Filmcritic.com

ably demonstrates just how powerful a well-crafted film can be Full Review

Clint Morris
February 25, 2006
Clint Morris, Film Threat

A tour-de-force for De Palma, Penn and Fox - possibly one of the best war movies ever made Full Review

Daniel Eagan
December 17, 2004
Daniel Eagan, Film Journal International

Worthwhile drama set in the Vietnam War

James Sanford
October 7, 2004
James Sanford, Kalamazoo Gazette

Harrowing drama with strong performances

Brian Mckay
March 19, 2003
Brian Mckay, eFilmCritic.com

Examines the dehumanizing effects of war, and implies that the soldiers who commit the atrocities are as much a victim of that dehumanization as the girl who they victimize Full Review

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  • What actor played Private Diaz in Casualties of War?  Answer »
  • What war movie did Sean Penn and Michael J Fox star in together?  Answer »
  • In which war movie did Michael J. fox have to stand alone against his fellow soldiers and Commanding Officer Sergeant Meserve?  Answer »
  • Which actor has starred in all of the following:- - Casualties of War - Days of Thunder - What's Eating Gilbert Grape? - Boogie Nights - The Thin Red Line - Magnolia  Answer »
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