Reflections on (Super) Heroes

  Are most of our heroes really heroes? The answer in my opinion is always yes, at least they will always be in the instance that they were deemed heroic. However, does this mean that they will always be in hero mode? My answer is absolutely not, after all human heroes are only human with temporary super- powers. 

I chose this movie “The Last Flag Flying” because of its diverse acting cast, and its story that is filled with U.S.A. Marines and Navy Corpsman. This movie’s story line has been hated and loved by many. I personally love this movie and watched it several times just to be sure that I loved it. 

It took me awhile to understand my appreciation for this film but now I completely know why I do love this movie so much. I love it because of the raw realness captured by the film director Richard Linlater, and the screenplay by Linlater and Darryl Ponicsan. I can imagine real people in each character portrayed in this movie.  The movie is starring J. Quinton Johnson- Washington, Laurence Fishburne-Reverend Richard Mueller, Steve Carell- Larry “Doc” Sheperd, Bryan Cranstan- Sal Nealon, Deanna Reed-Foster, as Ruth, Yul Vazquez- Colonel Wilits. Perhaps you will also find so one you know in each character portrayed in this story, too.

We love our military our soldiers and we honor them. We look at them all through the lenses of greatness with respect. But, when we deal with the traumatic truths from their scars, stress, and mental illnesses many of us cannot or simply choose not to relate to such matters. However, we can relate if we have been affected directly by the ugly truths that linger from the casualties of wars fought to protect our country.  I believe the Director Linlater, captured this realness in the characters portrayed in the movie.

In one way or the other, Larry “Doc” Shepard is my hero in this story. He is the humble once Navy Corpsman that got busted down to an E1 during the Vietnam War. He was the Navy Corpsman, the one buddy of two older Marines, that did the time in the brinks but did not really do the crime. He is the military father that stood up to our military in his own way for righteousness in honor of his Marine son’s military violent death.  There are lies told in this story by our military government, one was disclosed and the other is never disclosed. It is left to us to decide if the lie never wins. 

There is not a lot of action packed into this movie but there is a lot of passion. In order not to inject a ton of spoiler alerts I am keeping my review brief. The comradery expressed in the movie amongst the three Seamen united is adoring to me especially in these crucial times of division in our country. I chose to focus on the relationships of the men from different walks of life outside of their military connections. They managed to stay true to one another even after decades had past them by because of their military comradery rather than their ethnic and financial backgrounds.  The involvement of Larry’s son’s best friend the young Marine on the detail to escort the body seems genuine. To me this movie was very refreshing mainly because Larry my hero of this story with his humble mannerisms lead both his honorary reverend friend, and his alcoholic friend to the mission at hand, to bury his brave son back home where he unknowingly really wanted to be. 

If you are like me a civilian, that wanted to learn more about our country’s military branches you can check out this link https://www.ourmilitary.com/difference-between-the-navy-and-marines/ for more information about the difference between the USA Marines and the USA Navy. 

This movie is based on the novel of the same name written by Darryl Ponicsan, and a movie starring Jack Nicholson, “The Last Detail”. If you like this movie I do recommend you follow up and watch the comedy the “Last Detail”.