Day 77- Movie 69. Private Benjamin (1980)

One of the things I love doing is having Netflix encourage me to watch certain movies. I have about 400 movies in my Instant Queue, and if you look through that list, there are certain films that expire, and are no longer available for instant viewing. I do my best to stay on top of this, and try to watch those movies before they expire. The reason that I like doing this is that it is extra motivation for me to watch specific films. For example, Private Benjamin. I probably would never have gotten around to seeing this film if Netflix didn't tell me I had to watch it tonight, or it would be gone from instant viewing. It would have just gotten lost among the other 400 movies.

That's not to say I especially liked this movie. I thought it was fine, but mostly a regular, average comedy. The story is about a woman (Goldie Hawn) who has spent her life identifying herself through her relationships. When her new husband unexpectedly dies, she decides to join the U.S. Army. She great underestimates what that entails, and hilarity supposedly ensues. The film doesn't quite nail the story- it certainly could have been more effective.

What I liked about this film is the message. The film is geared towards women, but really applies to anyone. The message is that you can do anything if you want it badly enough. It's about achieving more than you ever thought possible, simply by having the will and determination to stick it out in the face of severe adversity. I think that's a good message. Considering this film came out in 1980, I think it also delivers a good message to women, who historically have not had the same opportunities men have had in their careers. There's certainly something empowering about watching a woman succeed in a field typically thought of as male-dominated. I'm not sure the message is as powerful today as it was in 1980, but it's a good message nevertheless.

My problem with this movie is that it loses effectiveness right when it finally wins the audience over. I'm going to hint at certain events in the film, but I'll keep it as vague as I can. Still, if you're planning on watching this for the first time, I'll send out a SPOILER WARNING, just in case. We watch Hawn as she struggles to adapt to life in the military. As a spoiled, sheltered girl, she's obviously horrible as being a solider. And yet, over time, she adapts to the life, and even succeeds in the Army. That's a pretty powerful feel good moment. And yet, at the height of her achievement, the movie shifts gears abruptly, sends her to Europe, and we get this weak love story. The movie does redeem itself in the last 10 minutes, but there's a 25 minute stretch where most of the effectiveness built up is lost.

While I thought this was a decent movie, I was a bit surprised that this film was nominated for 3 Academy Awards. Let's break them down. Best Actress in a Leading Role- Goldie Hawn. I suppose this nomination could be considered worthy, although I'm a bit surprised. Hawn is certainly good in the role, but I don't know if she's THAT good. I bet the Academy was impressed that Hawn went through so much physicality in the film. In that regard, it's probably good she received a nom. Also, probably a good call that she didn't win.

Second up, Best Supporting Actress- Eileen Brennan. Now, I've always like Brennan quite a bit, so I don't want to say anything bad about her. I thought she was fine here, but not exactly great. She's been far better in other films throughout her career. I have to wonder if this nomination was a bit of a "career recognition" move, as this is her only Academy Award nomination. I'm glad she was recognized, but this isn't among her best performances.

Finally, Best Original Screenplay. I suppose this film may deserve the nomination here. The first 70 minutes and the last 10 are certainly good, but its troubling that there's that long stretch that just seems significantly less effective than the rest of the film. Oh well, again, I question whether it was truly deserving, but it's not a huge crime, either. I'll just wrap this up by saying it doesn't surprise me this film didn't win any Oscars.

So, in conclusion, there's a lot to like here, but a few areas that really hold the film back. It wasn't a bad movie, just not as effective as it could have been. I'll give Private Benjamin a 6.5/10.

On the 100 in 100 front, I'm just trying to maintain by hitting 1 film a day during the week, and I'll  make another big push this weekend. I certainly think achieving this goal is possible, but I admit, thinking about watching 31 movies in the next 23 days is a daunting prospect. I had to psych myself up to watch a movie tonight. I would have preferred not to. Oh well, another day closer, and another movie done. See you tomorrow.