For one thing, audiences can expect more military-themed movies, even controversial ones. Next summer, Miramax plans to release Buffalo Soldiers, a black comedy about a U.S. military base in Berlin that operates as a front for a heroin operation. Robert Duvall and Mira Sorvino are now shooting the Civil War-era saga Gods and Generals, which is being financed by Ted Turner, while Ron Howard and John Sayles are collaborating on a drama about the Alamo for Disney. And Sylvester Stallone has been making noises about writing another Rambo. Spy Game's Wick, meanwhile, is preparing the Navy warship drama Dreadnought and Fertig, based on a story President Reagan told him about a group of WWII American soldiers who retreated into the Philippine jungle instead of surrendering to the Japanese. Still, Wick says the current green light doesn't apply to all battle-related ideas. "The self-examination that might be at a later point relevant just doesn't feel appropriate," he says. "You wouldn't want to do a story right now about an American serviceman raping and killing a Japanese woman on Okinawa."

Which makes Windtalkers seem like a Christmas movie by comparison. Besides, MGM's McGurk says, as a result of its date jockeying, his film now has an added attraction: "It's being released on Flag Day."

Originally posted Dec 07, 2001 Published in issue #629 Dec 07, 2001 Order article reprints
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