Biloxi Blues (1988)
Directed by Mike Nichols
Genres - Drama, War |
Sub-Genres - Coming-of-Age, Military Comedy |
Release Date - Mar 25, 1988 (USA) |
Run Time - 106 min. |
Countries - United States |
MPAA Rating - PG13
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Synopsis by Hal Erickson
Biloxi Blues was the second of playwright Neil Simon's semi-autobiographical trilogy (number one was Brighton Beach Memoirs; number three, Broadway Bound). Matthew Broderick stars as Simon's alter ego Eugene Morris Jerome, who is drafted and shipped off to boot camp in Biloxi, Mississippi in the waning days of World War II. Eugene is at the mercy of near-psychotic drill sergeant Toomey (Christopher Walken), who seems to have a personal vendetta against the poor schlemiel (Toomey also has all the film's best lines). While sweating out basic training, Eugene is indoctrinated into manhood by local prostitute Rowena (Park Overall). The film version of Biloxi Blues retains the wit and poignancy of the theatrical original--except towards the end, which pointlessly emphasizes a showdown between Eugene and Toomey.
Characteristics
Moods
Themes
Keywords
boot-camp [military], craziness, friendship, homosexual, humiliation, military, prostitute/prostitution, purity, sadist, writing
Attributes
High Production Values