Cinema Reviews

Milius Review

• 14th Nov 2013

Filmmaker John Milius gets the retro-documentary treatment in this new documentary.

This is a filmmaker who came to prominence in the 70’s and charged through the 80’s and beyond, leaving his very  distinctive mark along the way.  His contemporaries were the likes of Spielberg, Lucas, Scorsese and Coppola (Who all show up here to talk about the figure, the legend and the work master that is John Millius) and in many cases he delivered some key work within their films as a writer or script doctor that has had in imposing effect of film history.

Various of his key works as either writer or director are discussed (Apocalypse Now, Conan the Barbarian, Big Wednesday, Red Dawn) with input from filmmakers as well as critique of how he went about the work (for better or for worse). You very quickly get the image of who Milius was in the industry and his unique methods of getting films made.

The format of the documentary follows a fairly standard linear format, charting the early years, breakthrough, rise to prominence and the troubles encountered along the way. Thankfully Milius is still among us, so the documentary leads right up to present times and even gives strong hints at what may still come. This one is an education for film historians on a very important writer certainly who worked in a very unique and impassioned way on Hollywood in a very critical era of the birth of the Hollywood blockbuster.

This is highly recommended if you are interested in film history landmarks, or just a cracking take on a very significant and original figure in film.

Steven Hurst