The War (1994)

An emotionally fractured Vietnam vet returns to his family in rural Mississippi, counseling his kids when they have to fight their own neighborhood battle. From the director of Fried Green Tomatoes.

Director:

Jon Avnet

Writer:

Kathy McWorter

Stars:

Elijah Wood, Kevin Costner, Mare Winningham

1 win & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Elijah Wood	...	Stu Simmons
Kevin Costner	...	Stephen Simmons
Mare Winningham	...	Lois Simmons
Lexi Randall	...	Lidia Joanne Simmons
LaToya Chisholm	...	Elvadine
Christopher Fennell	...	Billy Lipnicki
Donald Sellers	...	Arliss Lipnicki
Leon Sills	...	Leo Lipnicki
Will West	...	Lester Lucket
Brennan Gallagher	...	Marsh
Adam Henderson	...	Chet
Charlette Julius	...	Amber
Jennifer Tyler	...	Ula Lipnicki
Lucas Black	...	Ebb
Justin Lucas	...	Willard

Storyline

Vietnam War vet Stephen Simmons must deal with a war of a different sort between his son and their friends, and a rival group of children. He also must deal with his own personal and employment problems that have resulted from his Vietnam experiences.

---

Plot Keywords:

cardiopulmonary resuscitation | coming of age | bullying | anti war | post traumatic stress disorder | 

---

Taglines:

What's worth fighting for?

---

Genres:

Drama

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for the intense depiction of human struggle and conflict

Did You Know?

Trivia

The cigarettes Elvadine smokes in the movie are herbal, not tobacco.

---

Goofs

The Lipnicki gang dries off too quickly after exiting lake at the quarry.

---

Quotes

Stu: What the hell. Dad. He's hitting our car.
Stephen: I see that.

---

Crazy Credits

When the credits are over and the music ends, we hear a helicopter.

---

Connections

References Gone with the Wind (1939)

---

Soundtracks

Summertime Blues
Written by Eddie Cochran and Jerry Capehart (as J. Capehart)
Performed by Eddie Cochran
Courtesy of EMI Records USA, a division of ERG
Under license from CEMA Special Markets

User Reviews

The simple, unappealing name does not do justice to this fine film.

Who would want to see a movie called "The War?" Not, me, and that's why I only saw this 1994 movie tonight, on TV. And I was pleasantly amazed at how good it is. Costner turns out to have a very strong "supporting" role because the movie really is about Elijah Woods' character and the other kids who find out about the real war we human beings seem to fight daily. Excellent mix of humor, action, drama, sadness, and triumph. The "dare" scene inside the water tank was one of the more gripping I've seen in any film. I rate it "8" but almost feel it deserves a "9".

Feb 2006 update. I saw it again, on DVD, and most of the movie was fresh again. After Costner's character was faced with killing people in the Vietnam war, he fully understood that love was the only thing fighting for. This is what he was able to pass down to his son and daughter. As they say, in any 'war', even the ones we may fight with our neighbors, we always lose track of the real reason we are fighting and destroy the things we value.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 November 1994 (USA)

Also Known As:

The War

Filming Locations:

Beaufort, South Carolina, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$5,203,275, 6 November 1994

Gross USA:

$16,928,556

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$16,928,556

Company Credits

Production Co:

Island World

Technical Specs

Runtime:

126 min

Sound Mix:

DTS DTS-Stereo Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1