The Mark of Cain (2007)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

Marc Munden

Writer:

Tony Marchant (writer)

Release Date:

25 November 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Uses detailed research and explosive new testimonies by soldiers who have served in Iraq to tell an emotional fictional story of two young men very much out of their depth.

Plot Keywords:

Iraq | Moral Corruption | Racism | Blasphemy | Male Full Frontal Nudity

Awards:

6 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Gerard Kearns	...	Mark 'Treacle' Tate
Matthew McNulty	...	Shane Gulliver
Naomi Bentley	...	Shelley
Elliot Cowan	...	Captain Worriss
Brendan Coyle	...	Davey Gulliver
Heather Craney	...	Brenda Tate
Shaun Dingwall	...	Major Godber
Shaun Dooley	...	Corporal Gant
Leo Gregory	...	Lance Corporal Quealey
Alistair Petrie	...	Major Rod Gilchrist
Pip Torrens	...	Colonel Hampton
Roger Barclay	...	Adjutant
Matthew Gravelle	...	Chaplain
Kevin Knapman	...	Pvt Soldier 1
Simon Naylor	...	Pvt Soldier 2

MPAA:

Rated R for violent and disturbing content including torture, pervasive language and some nudity.

Runtime:

87 min | Netherlands:90 min (International Film Festival Rotterdam)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Finland:K-15 | Australia:MA (2007) | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Bolton School, Bolton, Lancashire, England, UK

Company:

Red Production Company

Goofs:

Continuity: When Gulliver and Tate are outside, before they go to beat the prisoners, the scene changes from morning to the middle of the night, after watching the other soldiers walk towards the cells and cut back to them talking.

Almost good

Although Mark of Cain isn't a bad movie, and most of the acting is in fact pretty good, it seems to be lacking a clear purpose. For a movie that aims to make a political statement, it seems to pull its punches at the most crucial moments. As a movie that wants to tell a story about a modern war, although realistic and often gritty, it is not nearly as powerful as Platoon or as intricate as Jarhead. In fact, the power of the story seems to peter out after the first two-thirds of the movie. For example, the technique of starting with a crucial scene, and then flashing back to this scene as the story unfolds, becomes less powerful. Eventually, the viewer pretty well knows what to expect. Watch Mark of Cain, expect some poignant scenes, but don't expect any new insights in that fiasco known as Iraq and don't expect to see war's truly horrific face.