Glory

This Civil War tale is a long overdue tribute to America's first black regiment to go into combat, the 54th Massachusetts Voluntary Infantry. The details are culled partly from the letters of the 54th's commander, Colonel Robert Gould Shaw (played by Matthew Broderick), a sensitive 25-year-old (but already a veteran) from an abolitionist family who's determined to lead his men into full battle. Shaw faces resistance from both above and below: his racist superiors won't even allow the soldiers boots, and the troops resent the white man's leadership, especially rebellious runaway slave Denzel Washington. While there are undoubtedly pockets of stereotyping, such as the embarrassing scene in which Morgan Freeman, Washington and the rest of the black cast burst into spiritual harmonies, the lasting impression is of Washington's performance in particular and the plight of the men in general. Fabulously photographed by Freddie Francis and with brilliantly staged (and shockingly violent) battle scenes, Glory will bring tears to the steeliest eye.

Glory heralds the bravery of the American Civil War's first black fighting unit. Most of the emphasis has gone into... read more on Time Out