On C List of Movie Reviews
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Coming Home (1978)
Rate:
9
Viewed:
4/14, 6/22
4/14:
Coming Home is a wonderfully shot picture with superlative performances by Jon Voight, Jane Fonda, Bruce Dern,
and Penelope Milford.
In fact, all four of them were nominated for Oscars with the first two coming away as winners. Admittedly, I hate Jane Fonda
for various reasons, but she's really good in this by exhibiting a calm, neutral demeanor toward everybody. It's why
Jon Voight developed an instant connection with her.
For Jon Voight's character Luke, it's been a remarkable transition if I think back to the beginning when he was acting like Ron Kovic
the angry, jaded vet. In fact, you can ask yourself, "Why was
Born on the Fourth of July made if Coming Home
came first?" It's because both are different films but with same message.
All the credit is due to Hal Ashby who had a meager oeuvre of tensomething films including the famous cult flick
Harold and Maude. What makes Coming Home special is that he lets the thespians do their job while opting
for a laid-back approach with the camera.
All in all, Coming Home is one of the great anti-war pictures that tells a profound story of ex-soldiers who are
left scarred by their wartime experience.
6/22:
If you hear the phrase "emotional truth" through acting, Oscar winners Jon Voight and Jane Fonda exemplify it the best in
Coming Home.
Just like The Best Years of Our Lives, it's a powerful film about the impact of war on different people that's
further explored in Born on the Fourth of July. In fact, Ron Kovic's tale, published in 1976, is how Jane Fonda's
personal film project got started. While it's difficult to get past her and Jon Voight's outstanding performances,
Bruce Dern and Penelope Milford are excellent, earning themselves Oscar nominations.
All in all, Coming Home shows what superior acting can do for a motion picture.