Monday, July 26, 2010

Good Morning Blogosphere


Over the weekend I was lucky enough to find one of my favorite films on TV. Good Morning Vietnam is a great balance between entertainment and thought provoking inspiration. It also includes some great actors like Forrest Whitaker as the bumbling but loyal assistant, J.T. Walsh as the uptight ultra conservative commander, and whether you love or hate Robin Williams, you must admit this is the perfect role for him.

I won't rehash the plot because I'm confident that most of you have probably seen or at least heard of this movie but I will point out why this is a great example of good storytelling:

1) Conflict. The conflict in this film is mostly not the life and death kind. It's not even the dismemberment kind. Adrian Cronauer is an Airmen (this was before the armed forces had a full fledged Air Force) who is transferred to Vietnam to be a radio DJ and entertain the GIs who are fighting the war. The main plot line is the conflict between him and his commanders about what can be said and played on the radio. It's fun, funny and makes for some great comedy moments.

Then there are some points of conflict that act as various subplots. Cronauer is an English teacher for some local South Vietnamese in his spare time and he befriends a young man (who also happens to be the brother of the love interest) who actually turns out to be a member of the Viet-Cong.

There is also the bombing at Cronauer's favorite watering hole Jimmy Wahs and the fact that he is not allowed to report it on the radio because it is "unofficial news".

2) Characters. Cronauer was actually a real person and he probably wasn't quite as entertaining in real life but the character in the film is an easy one to root for as he stands up for the little guy and bucks authority while just trying to do his job.

There are also some great villains in the story. Lt. Steven Hauk is Cronauer's immediate supervisor and he is just begging to be made fun of. He tries to befriend Adrian a little at first but is so inept at running a radio station that he falls apart. Sgt. Major Dickerson (played by J.T. Walsh) is a much more uptight commander and really has it in for Adrian. He tries to shut down his program over and over. Then there is Tuan, Cronauer's student in English and his young friend. Tuan is technically a villain because he is a terrorist and is partly responsible for the bombing at Jimmy Wahs but he is also one of the most perfectly flawed characters ever and he is easy to sympathize with because he is so HUMAN.

I could go on forever with more examples of how this movie rocked at storytelling, even though this tale would not work well as a book, in my opinion, but I'm trying to keep my posts shorter so instead I'll leave you with some great quotes from the film:

Dickerson: This is not military issue, airman. What sort of uniform is that?
Adrian Cronauer: Cretan camouflage sir. If you want to blend in with a bunch of drunken Greeks there's nothing better.
Dickerson: That is humor. I recognize that. I also recognize your brand of soldier.

[imitating Walter Cronkite] Adrian Cronauer: I just want to begin by saying to Roosevelt E. Roosevelt, what it is, what it shall be, what it was. The weather out there today is hot and shitty with continued hot and shitty in the afternoon. Tomorrow a chance of continued crappy with a pissy weather front coming down from the north. Basically, it's hotter than a snake's ass in a wagon rut.

[Lt. Steven Hauk uses Army jargon to refer to a press conference to be given by former Vice-President Nixon] Adrian Cronauer: Excuse me, sir. Seeing as how the V.P. is such a V.I.P., shouldn't we keep the P.C. on the Q.T.? 'Cause if it leaks to the V.C. he could end up M.I.A., and then we'd all be put out in K.P.

Adrian Cronauer: Thank you. I think this fall, the discerning GI is gonna be wearing green in the jungle. Why? Because it matches with the green! The leaves, they fall upon the helmets, says yes to me.

Sgt. Major Dickerson: [Pointing to his rank insignia] What does three up and three down mean to you, airman?
Adrian Cronauer: End of an inning?

Adrian Cronauer: If I don't get to my English class, there'll be a lot of people speaking in short choppy sentences.

Adrian Cronauer: James! Nice, shiny green suit. You look like an Oriental leprechaun.

There are several more good ones, of course, but this post has gone on long enough. What did you do this weekend?

19 comments:

Aubrie said...

I usually don't enjoy watching war movies, but I really liked this film. Robin Williams is hilarious. And there sure is a lot of conflict!

Candyland said...

I've never seen this movie. It's one of my dad's favs though. I went to a rib fest in the blazing heat...

Will Burke said...

I haven't seen this in years, but I think it's in our collection. Time to dust it off!

Old Kitty said...

I remember seeing this in the cinema oh golly - decades ago! LOL! I don't remember enjoying it so much - I guess I was in my grumpy gloomy teenage years and didn't think Vietnam was something to be entertained by! Oh dear!! I've mellowed in my old age so maybe it's time to re-watch this with more sage eyes than before!

Take care
x

Christina Lee said...

OMG it's been FOOOREVER since I saw this one-- thx for the great recap!

S.A. Larsenッ said...

I remember this. It was great, at least I thought so.

Jaydee Morgan said...

Haven't seen this movie in ages either - might have to give it another viewing one of these weekends.

This weekend was spent between my WIP and the golf course. Housework fell by the wayside - but it's something I can live with ;)

Bryan Russell said...

Oh, man, I love that movie. Made my wife watch it before we even started dating. Maybe it was some sort of test...

Slamdunk said...

I never saw the whole movie, but I remember the story was based on a real person.

Nice review.

Unknown said...

I love that movie--and I'm not usually a war movie fan. I think it's because of the character piece you discuss here. It was much about people than about war.

What I did this weekend? Played miniature golf and went to a splash park/pool. Yeah, it was a tough weekend. :)

Lydia Kang said...

That was a wonderful, heartwarming and heartbreaking movie.
And I forgot all those zingers!

Jessica Bell said...

I loved that movie! I should watch it again ...

Um, this weekend I ... ah, you know :o)

About Me said...

I haven't seen the movie in years. Nice breakdown of the conflict and characters.

Alleged Author said...

I always forget how much I love this movie!

Talli Roland said...

I'm with Aubrie - I don't usually like war films. But this one is fab!

Lindsay said...

What a great example of a story where the conflict isn't being killed or hurt. :)

This weekend I started the new wip. :)

Stina said...

I seem to remember enjoying that movie several decades ago. :)

Me. I saw Eclipse. It was my wedding anniversay gift . . . going to see it without my husband while he went to see Neil Young in concert without me. Believe me, not being dragged to see N Y was a gift. Watching the half naked wolf pack flex their muscles was definitely more entertaining. :D

Kelly Polark said...

Good film, I haven't seen it in ages. I do think that Robin Williams is a versatile actor.

My weekend has been fishing and catching frogs with my kids at my dad's cabin!

Ted Cross said...

I love this movie. I've seen it many times, though recently I've been waiting for my boys to get old enough to be able to watch it. Robin Williams has done an amazing number of great acting roles (mixed with his crap ones). The World According to Garp, Dead Poets Society, Good Will Hunting, Mrs. Doubtfire, etc.