THE NATION’S HEART WAS TOUCHED BY GODS AND GENERALS.
As the Civil War is about to begin, generals Robert E. Lee (Robert Duvall) and Thomas Jackson (Stephen Lang) decide with sadness in their hearts to abandon the union. Ten years after Gettysburg (1993) came this prequel that portrayed events leading up to the Gettysburg battle. Unfortunately, it lacks the focus of the original and spends way too much time making speeches, reciting poems and quoting the Bible. Everyone is so darn noble. The film is only for die-hard Civil War buffs, but at least the battle sequences are detailed and exciting.
2003-U.S. 223 min. Color. Widescreen. Produced, written and directed by Ronald F. Maxwell. Novel: Jeff Shaara. Song: “Cross the Green Mountain” (Bob Dylan). Cast: Jeff Daniels (Joshua L. Chamberlain), Stephen Lang (Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson), Robert Duvall (Robert E. Lee), Mira Sorvino, Kevin Conway, C. Thomas Howell… Bruce Boxleitner. Cameo: Ted Turner.
Trivia: Tom Berenger and Martin Sheen were both asked to reprise their roles from Gettysburg, but declined; Russell Crowe was allegedly considered for the part of “Stonewall”. Because of the box-office failure, the planned third part of this series will not be filmed.
