6 Films to Watch on Memorial Day

 

Many Americans – young and old have given their life for our country in wars that have stretched out over decades. For the ones who survived and returned to U.S. soil, many of them will never be the same.  So, Memorial Day is a time for our country to rally around those men and women how risked their lives, left their families in order for those of us at home to feel safe.  In honor of all of them, including my Uncle Thomas (who was a 2-time Purple Heart recipient), My Uncle Warren, dozens of my cousins and my Marine Corp father – here are six of my favorite recommendations to screen  or stream this Memorial Day.  Semper Fi – Do or Die!

 

APOCALYPSE NOW (1979)

Francis Ford Coppola’s seminal Vietnam War drama is a twofold journey, following Special Forces soldiers (Martin Sheen, Robert Duvall and Laurence Fishburne) as they venture into Cambodia to assassinate a renegade Special Forces colonel (Marlon Brando), as well as a journey into the depths of the human psyche. Apocalypse Now received eight Oscar nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director, and won Oscars for Best Cinematography and Best Sound.

WHERE TO STREAM: Prime Video, Apple TV and Google Play

 

BORN ON THE FOURTH OF JULY (1989)

Tom Cruise received his first Best Actor in a Leading Role Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Vietnam veteran-turned-anti-war activist Ron Kovic in this biopic. Born on the Fourth of July received eight Oscar nominations and went on to win two: Best Director for Oliver Stone and Best Film Editing.

WHERE TO STREAM: Netflix, Prime Video, Apple TV

 

BLACK HAWK DOWN (2001)

Based on journalist Mark Bowden’s nonfiction book of the same name, Ridley Scott’s account of the doomed 1993 raid in Mogadishu and the subsequent attempt to rescue downed Black Hawk crews stars an ensemble cast led by Josh Hartnett and Ewan McGregor, with Eric Bana, Tom Sizemore, Sam Shepard, William Fichtner, Jeremy Piven and Tom Hardy.  Black Hawk Down was nominated for four Oscars and won two: Best Film Editing and Best Sound.

WHERE TO STREAM: Prime Video, Apple TV, HULU and many other streaming platforms

 

THE HURT LOCKER (2008)

This Iraq War thriller stars Jeremy Renner and Anthony Mackie as Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal experts tasked with diffusing IEDs in Baghdad. The Hurt Locker was nominated for nine Oscars and went on to win six, including Best Picture and Best Directing for Kathryn Bigelow — who made history by becoming the first woman to ever win the Oscar for Best Directing.

WHERE TO STREAM: PRIME VIDEO AND APPLE TV

 

 

HACKSAW RIDGE (2016)

This biographical war drama was inspired by the true story of private first class Desmond T. Doss during the Battle of Okinawa. Andrew Garfield portrays the pacifistic WWII hero who saved 75 of his fellow soldiers without firing a single bullet. Doss went on to become the first conscientious objector to be awarded the Medal of Honor.  Hacksaw Ridge received six Oscar nominations, including Best Actor in a Leading Role for Garfield, and went on to win two Oscars: Best Film Editing and Best Sound Mixing.

WHERE TO STREAM: Netflix and other streamers

 

DA 5 BLOODS (2020)

This Spike Lee joint follows Black vets Paul (Delroy Lindo), Otis (Clarke Peters), Eddie (Norm Lewis), and Melvin (Isiah Whitlock Jr.) as they return to Vietnam to recover the remains of their former squad leader, “Stormin'” Norman (Chadwick Boseman), and the secret treasure that they buried while serving there. The war drama received an Oscar nomination for Best Original Score
WHERE TO STREAM:  Only on Netflix