The Odd Angry Shot (1979)
A group of Australian SAS regiment soldiers are deployed to Vietnam around 1967/8 and encounter the realities of war, from the numbing boredom of camp life and long range patrols, raids and ambushes where nothing happens, to the the terror of enduring mortar barrages from an unseen enemy. Men die and are crippled in combat by firefights and booby traps, soldiers kill and capture the enemy, gather intelligence and retake ground only to cede it again whilst battling against the bureaucracy and obstinacy of the conventional military hierarchy. In the end they return to civilization, forever changed by their experiences but glad to return to the life they once knew.
Watch Trailer
Free Trial Channels
Cast
Similar titles
Reviews
What a beautiful movie!
From my favorite movies..
The acting in this movie is really good.
Yes, absolutely, there is fun to be had, as well as many, many things to go boom, all amid an atmospheric urban jungle.
I was station and did my tour of duty over seas' and I saw this movie and enjoyed it .... I watch it with my brother in my back yard on a sheet and neighbors hung out on me fence line watching it also... we all enjoy the movie... you really gotta watch it and enjoy it for what it reveals the story line and a group of men that eventually came home ....a lot of good boys went over there and did not come back .....and some that did was screwed for life ....we all made the best of what was available to us...but the people back home did not, when I finally did got orders.. we were not received at home like we should have ... also at that time we had the draft and had no news of home so we did not hear about marches and riots and sit in's I had four brothers three of us went in the services' not one of us became career soldiers' but we did our duty for the country we love WATCH the MOVIE and enjoy it for what you see not what you read or see on TV's newspapers and radio
On recent viewing, I have been surprised by how well the film reflected upon individual Australians' involvement in The Vietnam War. It also, through a couple of monologue from old hand, Graham Kennedy, dispassionately reflected upon the ultimate futility of Australia's involvement.Perhaps it's greatest strength was documenting the Australian male character of the times without reverting to a "lovable larrikins" approach. The battle scenes are done without heroics or dramatics. There is a matter of factness about the activities and reactions of the unit that makes them seem all the more realistic.The boredom, routines and irritations of jungle warfare are there as well as the odd angry shot that punctuates guerilla warfare. Loved the low-key ending which resisted taking aim at the unjust treatment of the returning vets but did reflect their estrangement as a presentiment of their future problems in readjusting.
I have seen this movie many times and never tire of it. Knowing people that were involved in the conflict I believe that this is how they acted. Graham Kennedy is excellent as Harry as are the other actors. It is a no holds barred account of the soldiers time in the jungles of Vietnam. Showing the soldiers personal side to the story only makes this film better.This movie is also now available on DVD. It is well worth obtaining a copy as this movie is well worth keeping in any persons DVD library. This is one the better made Australian movies and future generations will also enjoy watching an account of a turbulent time in world history.
I first saw this film on tv It captures for me the feeling of Vietnam soldiers who dont want to be in a war dont know what the war is even about.It took me years of seaching till I found a copy on VHS which think is nearly worn out. Thought provoking sad and funny the great line "Bugger all" whilst seaching the temple is totally unforgettable to me.