Glory :: Movie Film Review Glory Essays

GloryGlory captures the heroism of Colonel Robert Gould Shaw and the primary blackregi ment in the Civil War, the Massachusetts Fighting Fifty-fourth. An exceedingly talented cast and crew earned three Academy Awards (cinematography, heavy and supporting actor) and five nominations for their work in Glory. Theoutstanding cinematography, sound, score and playing recreate the events leadingup to the Union attack on fortress Wagner on July 18th 1863.Matthew Broderick portrays the young Bostonian abolitionist Col. Robert G.Shaw who takes command of the Fifty-fourth, following the emancipationProclamation. Shaw along with Cabot Forbes (Cary Elwes) leads a band of exslaves, servants and other black volunteers including a rebellious runaway slaveTrip (Denzel cap), Shaws educated childhood chum Thomas Searles (AndreBraugher), and a former grave digger Rawlins (Morgan Freeman). Together thesemen face the adversity of a racist Union Army, struggling to manifest themselvesworthy of their government issued blue uniforms.After months of training and exploitation for corporal labor, the Fifty-fourth gains the opportunity to fight in an attack on fastness Wagner on the beachesof South Carolina. Poised to dispel the belief that blacks would not bedisciplined under fire, the Fifty-fourth leads the almost suicidal attack on Ft.Wagner. thither Col. Shaw valiantly falls and the Fifty-fourth, suffering greatlosses, displayed the courage that persuaded the Union to wage many more blacksoldiers.Matthew Broderick delivers a noteworthy performance in the role of Col.Shaw, which Leonard Maltin calls his most ambitious part. In an interview forthe New York Times, Broderick mouth of his method acting,The first step in preparing for the role of Robert Gould Shaw in Glorywas to try to percolate as much as I could about the real person. That was mostlyfrom letters, photographs, descriptions and a poem by Emerson. The thing I hadto do was bring in myself into that situation. I d idnt want to be an imitation ofwhat I thought Shaw mustiness have been like.Brodericks acting talent has been noted on Broadway as hale as in films.Broderick won a Tony Award for his performance in Brighton Beach Memoirs in1983, a year after his film incoming in Max Dugan Returns. (Maltin, 102) But it washis role as a calculator hacker in War Games and his role as a fully grown young teentouring Chicago in Ferris Buellers Day Off that alerted moviegoers to histalent.Denzel Washington has received critical acclaim for his role as Trip (aswell as an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor). Denzel commented on the role ofTrip in an interview with the New York Times.