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Casualties Of War Details

1989 Certificate 18
  • Rated:
  • 70
  • from 2971 members

After being denied the chance to go to a nearby village to visit a prostitute before starting a reconnaissance mission, a tough, embittered American sergeant (Sean Penn) involves the four men of his patrol in the kidnapping of a young Vietnamese woman. The impending gang rape and murder of the woman splits the patrol into two .. Read more

Starring Michael J. Fox, Sean Penn, Dan Harvey, Don Harvey
Director Brian De Palma
Genres Drama

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Casualties Of War cover art

Casualties Of War

After being denied the chance to go to a nearby village to visit a prostitute before starting a reconnaissance mission, a tough, embittered American sergeant (Sean Penn) involves the four men of his patrol in the kidnapping of a young Vietnamese woman. The impending gang rape and murder of the woman splits the patrol into two factions--those for it, and those against it--with young Eriksson (Michael J. Fox) leading the dissension. But before long, the sergeant has convinced everyone but Eriksson to go along with the plan, making an already difficult mission unbearable for the morally conscious young soldier. Penn gives a powerful performance in this brutal, thoughtful war film from a script by playwright David Rabe (HURLYBURLY). In addition to Penn and Fox, this Brian De Palma movie features early screen roles by John C. Reilly, John Leguizamo, and Ving Rhames."

Starring Michael J. Fox, Sean Penn, Dan Harvey, Don Harvey, Dale Dye, John Leguizamo, John C. Reilly, Ving Rhames, Jack Gwaltney, Thuy Thy Le
Director Brian De Palma
Studio UCA
Run time DVD: 1 hr 48 mins
Blu-ray: 1 hr 53 mins
Certificate Certificate 18
Genres Drama
Language DVD: English
Blu-ray: English
Dubbed French, German, Italian, Spanish
Subtitles DVD: Arabic, Bulgarian, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Icelandic, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish
Blu-ray: Dutch, Hindi, Norwegian, French, German, English, Danish, Swedish, Arabic, Turkish
Released DVD: 14 Sep 2004
Blu-ray: not available
Production year: 1989
Format DVD

  • Critics' reviews (3) of Casualties Of War

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  • 4 stars out of 5

    It's not as well known as The Deer Hunter, Apocalypse Now or Platoon, but this Vietnam War tale is just as disturbing and probably more provocative since its content is far riskier. Directed by Brian De Palma, it has at its centre the fact-based story of a Vietnamese woman who is kidnapped and brutally raped by four GIs. While battle-scarred Sean Penn leads the assault, new recruit Michael J Fox stands back but doesn't help her. The film's compassion for the woman hits us directly, as does the way De Palma sets up the episode by showing the brutalisation of Penn and his colleagues in the preceding scenes. Filmed with all of De Palma's technical bravura, it heads towards an epilogue that reaches an emotional precipice and then leaps confidently over it.

    • Radio Times
    • Posted 29 Jan 2006

  • De Palma is not a director one looks to for conscience, and his track record on the issue of rape has been innocent of... read more on Time Out

    • Time Out
    • Posted 04 Nov 2008

  • Most helpful member's review of Casualties Of War

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  • 8 out of 10 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    Disturbing but compelling viewing that brings home the true cost of the Vietnam war to both soldiers and civilians alike.

      • Rosie#3 from NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE
      • Posted 27 Jan 2004 15:45

  • Most recent members' review of Casualties Of War

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  • 5 out of 5 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars [Highly rated reviewer]

    A Vietnam film with a difference

    Brian De Palma's vietnam film, considered to be one of the films that brings closure to the subject in American cinema I think. The film follows a group of soldiers who kidnap and rape a Vietnamese woman during their tour and asks simple questions around morality. Although the morality of rape is a bit of a no brainer, it is handled very well in the film and it works. The only real let down I felt was that the two lead performances of Penn and Fox weren't really up to the quality of the film. I understand that QT rates this as one of his favourite films of all-time and it is good, just not great.

      • McClennan from St Helens
      • Posted 23 Apr 2005 12:13

  • News and features

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    Redacted

    De Palma’s Way

    • 10 Mar 2008

    Brian De Palma is in hot water. Again. For a director who often seems more interested in form than content and who has devoted the bulk of his career to making mainstream entertainment for the Hollywood studios, it's surprising how regularly he upsets people. Even his fans have a love-hate relationship with this prodigiously gifted but perverse and erratic talent. Feminists picketed Dressed to Kill and Cuban refugees weren't flattered by Scarface either. But that's nothing on the US reaction... Read more

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2,971 Member ratings
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73
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33

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      After being denied the chance to go to a nearby village to visit a prostitute before starting a reconnaissance mission, a tough, embittered American sergeant (Sean Penn) involves the four men of his patrol in the kidnapping of a young Vietnamese woman. The impending gang rape and murder of the ...
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      • After being denied the chance to go to a nearby village to visit a prostitute before starting a reconnaissance mission, a tough, embittered American sergeant (Sean Penn) involves the four men of his ...