Pharaoh's Army

Rating:
Summary: Gritty, Raw and Beautiful film about the Civil War
Review: "Pharaoh's Army" defies formula. Instead of selling out for cliches and big stars, it relies completely on the excellent acting from a strong cast, the strength of a well written script, and a fascinating and bitter story. The result is a raw and realistic film that moves along fast, with a heavy emotional current. One of the best I've ever seen about the Civil War, and I think it can owe that to the pleasure of being an independent film (if you like this film, try to see the brilliant indie Civil War film "Wicked Spring" as well).

"Pharaoh" simply tells the true story of a small expedition/forage team of Union men who ride into a Confederate farm to take provisions, but end up stuck there because of an accident of one of the men. Tensions broil and relationships are made and broken. Nothing happens the way Hollywood would write it; this movie comes from the mind of someone who actually cares about quality film and the telling of history. Superb dialogue and plot exposition move along a film that looks highly professional, but often doesn't feel like you're watching a movie, more along the lines of hearing a story.

The film boasts an incredible performance from Chris Cooper who shows an amazing versatility in the exploration of his role. He transforms, but is always at the height of believability and is easy to emotionally relate to. Patricia Clarkson is equally as stellar and realistic in a role that many actresses would crumble in. She shares an interesting chemistry with Cooper's character and where she's the more severe of the characters, is still as easy to identify with. The rest of the cast is quite capable, and fill their roles in well.

The art design and the set are wonderful, and personally I love the cinematography. It all has the feel of a Civil War period photograph with the camera presenting strong contrasting colors and shadows and a tin-like metalic tint, but always keeping the naturalistic look of the rustic setting. They seem to have used natural lighting, but whatever they used works beautifully. Everything looks like it belongs where it is, it feels period, something I find rare in American period films. The actors act 19th century, not like 20th century people in old clothes.

Above all, this film is very personal. I think that as an indie it can afford it. The film is nearly flawless with an outstanding script that effortlessly creates and explores the relationships and personalities of these characters and lets them grow in a situation, as bad as it is. It doesn't fail in getting it's point across, and it gets it's point across without the usual and overused techniques that are used in all war films these days. It's brave. It relies on it's characters, a fantastic script, human emotion, and in the cold hard fact that the Civil War wasn't all CGI, big stars, and hoop skirts.

Rating:
Summary: BY FAR THE BEST AMERICAN CIVIL WAR FILM YET MADE!
Review: I saw this film in 1996 and can still remember every scene. Since then I've been waiting for it to become available on VHS. It's a story that compells you to think about the horrors of war and the difficult moral choices both soldiers and civilians in the path of war must frequently face. Like the film "All Quiet On The Western Front" it doesn't force you into taking sides (in this case with the North or South in the American Civil War) but merely makes you ask yourself "What would I do if I were that character?" A film can't go much deeper than that. This film was done on a somewhat low-budget and it relied heavily on an excellent cast, perfect costumes and location, and remarkable direction from Robby Henson. IT IS BY FAR THE BEST AMERICAN CIVIL WAR FILM YET MADE!
I hope to see much more from Director Robby Henson. He truly has the potential to become one of middle America's great movie storytellers.

Rating:
Summary: One of best Civil War films yet made!
Review: With all the gushing about a certain, current Civil War film I find myself going back to 'Pharaoh's Army' and wondering why this movie couldn't have been given the same accolades.

Was it the lack of big-name cast, crew, producer or director? Was it the fact that this film was filmed in the U.S. and not in Romania? Of course, the director of 'Pharaoh's Army' didn't have the bucks to afford stars so big that they dwarf the marquee. This director also paid more attention to the historical truths and accuracy of the Civil War period whereas that certain other, current film did not.

'Pharaoh's Army' succeeds where this current, much-lauded film falls flat on its face. It portrays human, flesh and blood people. There is no grand epic of walking back home for hundreds of miles. No grand showing of the Civil War battle of Petersburg.
'Pharaoh's Army' is set in the simple hill country of the Western theatre. A vignette of Civil War life intruded on by a foraging party and the results from it. Chris Cooper and the rest of these true stars are subperb and bring a life to their roles that the current, present movie can't touch and which has the initials of 'CM'.

'Pharaoh's Army' is the film that should have been in Oscar contention. It has everything that other movies lack in this genre. It is my pick as one of the very finest of all Civil War films.