I really can't remember the last time I saw a more confused movie that Miracle at St. Anna. (Uh, what was the miracle, again?)
You know, it would have been awesome if Spike Lee had decided not to let an 11-year old write the dialogue for this movie. Shitty dialogue makes bad actors out of good. And, boy, is this shitty dialogue. It's like someone set up a macro on a word processor, with entries for "homespun", "black slang", "tough guy", "serious".... Tiny little roles like the judge seem so out of tune. John Turturro, a great actor, sounds like he's doing some SNL sketch as a hard boiled detective, I swear to god. It's so over the top I suspect it must be intentional. But why stylize in such a throwaway, offhand way?
My adviser in college was always scolding me for using the word "tone" in my papers. She thought it was a needless and vague word. She was right, of course. But I think tone is real, at least in movies, and this is yet another movie where the tone makes no sense in connection with the plot. I saw the trailer and was so jazzed, man, Spike Lee showed such a light hand in The Inside Man, and I loved the World War II/hidden secrets of the past/murder mystery angle. And the trailer got the vibe just right, a kind of eerie, quiet sadness. So why was the first half of the movie in this bizarre kind of slapstick tone? It was like I was watching a WWII-era, black Stripes. The plot wasn't comedic, but the tone was, and it gave the first half of the movie this weird, sickly vibe.
It's a confusion that grows to envelope the whole movie. So many things don't make sense, which I'm sorry to say seems a growing problem in movies. Like, big spoilers here: so the big, annoyingly pure-hearted guy Train is choking that minor character for no particular reason I can divine, and his head is rolled back so he looks like the Sleeping Man, the figure in the mountain. And the old Italian dude says "The Sleeping Man!" But what does that mean? The locals say the Sleeping Man will awaken to save them. But he doesn't save them; he gets killed like every other character in the goddamn movie at the end. He doesn't even save the boy, really. And why does the main character say "I know who the Sleeping Man is"? Ok, movie, so it's this Train guy. Who the hell cares? Why does it matter if he's that guy? That has nothing to do with the main character shooting the Italian dude in the bank. At all. It's just some portentous shit to say in your movie, but when it doesn't have any actual connection to what's going on in terms of content, it's pretty cynical, dudes. (And how the hell does the main character know he's the Sleeping Man? He heard the old Italian dude's quiet aside and was like "Aha!"? It's all nonsense.)
He shoots the guy in the bank, you see, to avenge the massacre at St. Anna-- I'm still not comprehending what miracle is referred to in the movie's title, by the way-- this massacre that he heard about... when, exactly? I mean the chain of knowledge here makes no sense. The kid, I guess, was at the massacre, and the deserting German. OK, so the kid sees the German lieutenant guy talking to the Italian traitor. Then he sees the German lieutenant guy shoot his friend. So far so good. But does the kid really know the Italian guy was (kind of, sort of) responsible for the massacre in the Italian village? That's a pretty large logical leap for an 8 year old to make. And more to the point, how does the main character find out? The kid never tells him the Italian guy was (vaguely) responsible for this massacre, if in fact the kid knew. As far as the main character knows, all the Italian traitor did was betray his friend and kill the deserting German. Is that bad? Sure. Is that enough to compel you to bring a pistol to work every day in case you see this guy again, and then when you do happen to see him, shoot him in cold blood and ruin your life? The movie wants us to think that he shoots the Italian because of the massacre, but I see no way he could have known about it. (And the idea that this guy is guilty of a massacre is weird too. Yes, he betrayed his friend to the Nazis, and that sucks. But all he did was tell them what village to look in. That really makes him responsible when the Nazis massacre the village? Really?)
This kind of confusion tends to beget confusion, to the point where your movie makes such little sense, you get to the point where you're like "Hey, let's put this scene in the Bahamas for no fucking reason. Why the hell not?"
I really, really wanted to like this movie. Boo.
(What are German POWs doing in an ice cream parlor in rural Georgia in 1943?)
28 comments:
I think that yes, there was some confusion, but you are looking too far past the obvious and that is making you even more confused. The miracle was that this boy made it out of the massacre and helped to give hope to the soldiers. Hector knew the Italian guy was the traitor b/c he tried to kill Hector too! And he killed the German that the Americans needed and lied about it being safe over the mountain. It's not hard to figure out a traitor when they do all of that to cover their tail. Train choked the guy b/c he was an "Uncle Tom" of course. Maybe you aren't aware of the stigma attached to that. I wouldn't be too friendly to a "Yes man" to a guy who left us hanging and got most of my fellow soldiers killed because he is a moron...
That makes sense..but how did the main character know the traitor would show up at his jobe one day?
and I'm still confused on who the hell the sleeping man on the mountain is???
Ok so I can see how you have some confusions of the movie. There are some "secret/seggestive" themes incased throughout the movie. I am going to say that your probalbly going to have to watch it again to figure out about the sleeping man and such. Overall it was a good film. And for the German POWs and it was in Louisiana not Georgia. Germans who were captured in WW2 were sent back to army barracks back in the US. These were very common in mid-west states and down south.
Omg what a stupid movie. It made no sense. It was stupid. That's all I can say
As said before the little boy, Angelo was the miracle at St. Anna because he was the only one to survive the massacre that occurred there. Therefore he was also able to identify the traitor and knew the German solider was not the enemy because he set him free. As for why the guy had the gun at work, I think it was because the German solider whom gave it to him said to protect yourself and maybe he knew one day he would see that man again and would be able to avenge the death of his friends whom dies because of the traitor.
The movie could have seemed a little jumbled, but that Spike's form of cinematography which always ends up speaking volumes once you figure it out. Great movie !!
Great movie.
This ain't ur run of the mill spoon fed dramas that a 4th grader could easily comprehend. wake up america...it's ok to use ur brain sometimes and look beyond the obvious.
spike is a genius....quit hatin'.
shakespeare wasn't regarded as a leading poet until after he died...now u see why...the people of his era couldn't comprehend how vast, clever and intricate his style was....
watch it again!!!!
Overall, I thought the movie was ok. I'm glad that Spike Lee chose to make a war film on African- Americans and so forth. HOWEVEVER... I am so confused. Can someone please tell who the sleeping man is? I get that Angelo was the miracle. I understand why Hector shot the Italian man. I don't understand how Hector did not go to jail. I don't understand how the boy survived after dying. Was that apart of the miracle also?
Well, I loved this movie. I do agree that Spike Lee is a genius. In order to figure out what is going on in the movie, you must use your brain "a little" and think past the obvious, as stated earlier. So for those who had positive comments, I agree with you.
After watching the movie, these are what I think some of the answers to the unanswered questions are:
1. At the end of the movie, you realize that Angelo posted Hector's bail. He does not go to jail possibly because of the threat his Attorney issues to the Judge.
2. Yes, I do think that Angelo's survival was a miracle. Hector put his crucifix around Angelo's neck. Arturo actually appeared to him, when we saw that he was not dead. As they walked away, Arturo faded away but Angelo escaped. When Hector was re-united with him at the end, he was still wearing the necklace.
3. I also think that some of the miracles could be the various things that happened to each soldier, as evidence of their individual beliefs. When the Buffalo Soldiers were ambushed as they crossed the river, Trane was not killed while many other soldiers around him were. Maybe because of the "faith" he had in the protection of the sculpted head. Trane also rubbed his head when he needed assistance in lifting the board that trapped Angelo. Hector was the last person to assist in saving Angelo and after putting his necklace around Angelo's neck, he grabs the sculpted head. I thought he was killed until the soldier came and he was saved from being shot and given the German gun. He kept these two items the head and the gun for all those years, and in the end he used the gun to kill the traitor who lead the Nazis to St. Anna where Angelo's family was killed. Angelo happens to be sitting at a table in Italy and a newspaper falls on his table alerting him of the murder Hector committed and the discovery of the sculpted head. Angelo then, in my opinion, saves Hector. They are re-united, Angelo - the only survivor from his family and the St. Anna Massacre and Hector, the only survivor from his unit.
The sleeping Man is Sam Train, the Chocolate Giant. Look carefully toward the end of the movie. Twin is choking the 2nd Lieutenant and his profile is cast against the "Sleeping Man Mountain". At that moment, Ludivico, the old man in charge comments, "The Sleeping Man". Check it out. I watched it 3 times before I caught it. Great movie.
Train s "the sleeping man" at the end of the movie. He was so out of it when he was choking the guy, he could of been 'sleeping'. As for the miracle, its Hector and the boy surviving, then meeting again later in life.
Horrible. If the miracle is that the kid lived, why did his dead/invisible friend tell him "Wake up, you're going to go home. Go see Papa." Papa was dead, killed in the previous massacre.
The dead/invisible kid was his brother. The Nazi shot him when the traitor and Nazi were arguing and Angelo escaped.
I thought it was a good movie. Although there were some things that were confusing and just alittle too perfect. Angelo just so happened to find him and just so happened to be a million/billionare. Him running into the traitor weeks before he retires.
I thought it would be allitle more like inside man. With the focus on stolen and missing artifacts from the War. Or justice being served from war crimes against jews and blacks. Or even the impact of black soldiers during the war. Overall good though.
To those who asked "Why Bahamas" and "How did Hector not go to jail"?
Well, when the bail was posted - $2M.....Hector skipped to Bahamas - no extradition treaty at the time (1984)
^^Thanks!!
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Trane was not the sleeping man, the old guy called him that, because of the profile, but then everyone got killed, hence nobody was saved, and not the sleeping man by definition. The only theories that make any sense to me is that Hector was the sleeping man, awoken when he saw the traitor, and shot him avenging the massacre; OR Angelo was the sleeping man, designing all the seat belts etc. protecting people (not to mention fixing the radio). Another possibility is the statue head? Since it seemed to protect people?
Also - Arturo was the boy's friend, not his brother, and his father may or may not have been killed, because Angelo didn't know who he was. I think I remember Rudolfo being the boys brother, but not sure, and I know he was mentioned in court as the owner of the statue head....
hth
Another reason Trane is not the sleeping man, is because Hector says "I know who the sleeping man IS" not WAS...trane is dead, and can no longer be the sleeping man....so that leaves Hector, Angelo, and the statue by process of elimination...
...and note that he was talking to the statue at the end, that he was the only one left...so maybe it's the statue?
the sleeping man could be the german officer who saves hector's life and gives him the gun
it also cant be angelo...because hector didnt know angelo was alive or that he had done anything regarding protection... and it cant be the statue because the big dude had it and got killed
the sleeping man is probably symbolic of all the african american soldiers who fought in WW2 for America. Even though she (America) did not love them back, they protected her.
Just my thoughts
I think the sleeping man is the main character. He dormantly waited (slept) and avenged the entire village that was massacred in the end. The other argument could be that the sleeping man was the boy. At the end he awakens to salavge justice.
This is a story about faith. There is a person of faith from every group--a black person of faith, a german person of faith, Angelo has faith, people in the village have faith.
The myth of the Sleeping Man is about a shepherd who sleeps and one day will awaken to protect the village. Sometimes the sleeping man is called the sleeping giant. The "Chocolate Giant's" fury is awakened when the boy is threatened. The myth is a reference to Christ, the good shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep. The Chocolate Giant layed down his life for the boy.
The people of faith and how infectious the faith was and what it did to bring life was the miracle. The head of the statue was a symbol of the miracle. Whenever the faith was passed on amazing things happened.
The sleeping man was Christ, the good shepherd. He was symbolized in the Chocolate Giant who awoke to protect the boy and layed down his life.
either is that right, or... the sleeping man could be something as simple as the mountain... i mean? why would the mountain look like a sleeping man if it wasnt the sleeping man?....
good question...
Woah. You mean the dude that got shot at the bank was that guy Rodolfo? Um, the traitor guy? I never made that connection.
In some areas you made quite a lot of sense and gave some very good explanation. Yes, it is a jumbled and confusing film but you were rather critical. It is a great movie and some bits are straight forward so I have no idea what you're on about in some places. It's a great film so don't be so f****** critical!
i think the miracle is obviously the boy because he survived the st. anna massacre and everything else. i also think that the statue head is a miracle because it has also survived everything and it is what brings everything together in the end.
in the movie the italian woman said that the sleeping man lays at the top of the mountain to keep the woman he loves safe from the wind and the rain, and that he also protects the people of the village. so it sounds like to me that when that man awakens he will not be able to protect the village anymore, which is why they all die when the old man sees the sleeping man. when hector says he "knows who the sleeping man is" i think he is trying to say that he knows what happened there. like he said to the statue head at the end of the movie "i'm the only one who's left that knows", who knows what happened at the village.
the german officer gave hector the gun and said "defend yourself" and that is exactly what hector did when he shot rodolfo. he was defending what happened at that village. i don't believe he carried that gun knowing he will meet rodolfo. i feel that keeping the gun was sentimental and if he needed to defend himself he would
the boy in the end that disappears is his friend arturo that was killed when they were escaping st.anna. arturo tells angelo that he is taking him back to his home, where his father is. we all assumed that his father died at the church but we didn't know for sure because angelo began crying after hector asked him about his parents.
I don't mind a movie that makes me think about what's going on. But this movie doesn't do that. This movie just puts together a bunch of random scenes at the end to make the movie, as a whole, really awful. The sleeping man??? Who knows, who cares, could've done without that whole thing really. The movie would've been much better without ever mentioning the sleeping man. The miracle at St. Anna was hardly a miracle considering the only thing to happen there is a gigantic massacre, with only one survivor. Sounds like a miracle right? Let's wrap that whole thing up with a 2min court scene and an odd walk on the beach in the Bahamas. Please don't make any more movies like this Spike Lee. Far from genius. Far from complete. Very, very close to terrible.
Yes, this is one of those movies where your mind makes it good or frustrates/confused the hell out of you. I was thoroughly confused the first time I saw it. In a way, I can relate to the comment about all the subplots and little cameos all over the place. I felt like saying "...throw me a bone, Spike!" (so I can understand whats going on in this movie)
BUT...
It was a fun movie to analyze by the time I saw it a 2nd & 3rd times on Black Stars.
After reading some of the really good theories on the sleeping man, I will have to watch it again.
To me, this movie has EVERYTHING (and that may be part of the problem). Action, sexual innuendo, whodunit, history, man's cruelty to man, hope, salvation, miracles, & especially a story line that it not going to spoon feed you!
This is a movie that I thought was a "miss" when I first saw it, but I find myself watching again and again. It reminds me of a good novel where you get a little more enjoyment each time you read it.
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