ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT (2022)

 

Erich Maria Remarque's acclaimed novel about World War One, ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT, was adapted into an Academy Award-winning, legendary film by Universal Studios in 1930. This year brings a new movie version of the book, made in Europe and featuring a mainly German cast & crew. I viewed it on Netflix, with the original German audio track and English subtitles. (The actual title of this film is IM WESTEN NICHTS NEUES.) 

The 1930 ALL QUIET is still considered one of the greatest films dealing with war ever made. The 2022 ALL QUIET is in some ways even more impressive. The German cast makes the story more realistic (this is a German tale, after all). The production design is excellent, giving full detail to the mud, blood, and desolation of WWI trench warfare. 

The battle sequences are not CGI-filled tightly choreographed action scenes--they have a raw, graphic intensity. The soldiers doing the killing and being killed are not a bunch of faceless extras--director Edward Berger puts the viewer right into the muck and mire and forces the audience to acknowledge the individuality and humanity of the thousands of men being slaughtered. Berger and cinematographer James Friend also avoid contrived camera and editing tricks, giving the audience ample time to appreciate the many impressive shot compositions. 

Felix Kammerer is affecting and poignant as Paul Baumer, the main protagonist in the story. Paul isn't a hero, or a gallant fighter...he's just a German teenager trying to deal with this harrowing situation as best he can. Albrecht Schuch also deserves mention as the wily Katczinsky, Paul's friend and fellow soldier. 

This version of ALL QUIET has a sub-plot dealing with the armistice negotiations between Germany and the Allies in November 1918. Internet sources say this sub-plot is not in the original novel. These scenes feature Daniel Bruhl as German politician Mattias Erzberger, a real-life historical figure. I assume that these scenes were included to give some background detail about the war for present-day audiences, or maybe they were used as a way to give viewers a break from the trenches, but I felt they were unnecessary. I believe the film should have strictly focused on Paul, since we see everything else through his eyes. 

This new version of ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT is a true historical epic, but it's also a serious adult drama that doesn't spare anything in showing the horrors of close combat. The fact that it stars German actors who for the most part are unknown to English-speaking audiences makes it feel more accurate and immediate. (The only performer here who would be familiar to those in North America is Daniel Bruhl, mainly due to his appearances in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.) Netflix has a English-audio track available for this film, but I chose the original German, because I felt that would be more fitting. I realize there are plenty of folks who don't like subtitles, but the German audio is the one I would recommend. 

I do regret that I was not able to see the new ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT on the big screen. Apparently it has been playing in a few theaters around America, but of course it's not being shown that way around my area of South Bend. (Maybe if it was titled CRAPPY REMAKE PART 2??) If this film is showing in a theater near you, I highly suggest you go see it, or at least watch it on Netflix.