MovieChat Forums > 1969 (1988) Discussion > Laughable

Laughable

posted 12 years ago by chas437
5 replies | jump to latest

This film is so bad, I broke out laughing during some of the "serious scenes". Its a good cast overall, but Kiefer is badly miscast. He has come into his own as a good actor in darker roles, but he is awful as the happy-go-lucky naive hippy.

The screenplay is to blame. Its cliche from beginning to end, and really fails to capture the vibe of America in 1969. The Soundtrack is essentially the greatest hits of the late 60's, which adds to the cliche.

In the end, it comes off as 1969 as imagined by the 80's generation and is inauthentic to the core.

[–] timlin-4 12 years ago

I agree, it's not very good, but it was good seeing Winona

[–] bluesguy 10 years ago

Your a Republican, correct?

GO FIGURE....

I TRULY MISS STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN!

[–] chas437 10 years ago

Incorrect. I think you meant to say you are of you're, not your? Correct?

I'm a civilian, I'm not a trout

[–] Darthmauler_megaa 10 years ago

::shrugs:: I enjoyed the movie for what it is, a Vietnam War film that could only be made in the late '80s, completely with glossy group photo ending. If this had been made in the '70s, Ralph would have probably died in jail before the protesters could get there. But by the '80s I think audiences were just tired of sad endings. You have to have hope at some point.

"We never win any ball games...but we sure have some interesting discussions."

[–] horsenbuggy 8 years ago

I'm not saying it's a great film but I think you misunderstood Keifer's role. He's not a happy go lucky hippie. He's a nice guy who is either afraid of being drafted or ideologically disagrees with the war. So his first attempt to dodge the draft is by enrolling in college. He keeps an eye on his friend, trying to keep him out of trouble. As time passes, he gets more politically aware or just grows up to where he doesn't believe every single thing the authority figures in his life tell him. But he never really becomes a hippie - I mean he's still a virgin and doesn't do drugs. It's just something he explores in his personal growth.