Epic Brilliance

Great news from Hollywood this morning: after several years of pre-production and intense speculation, HBO has finally greenlit the sequel to “Band of Brothers”, the stunning 2001 mini-series from Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks which chronicled the legendary exploits of the 101st Airbourne’s Easy Company in Europe during WWII.

This follow-up effort is entitled “The Pacific” and will feature the “intertwined odysseys of three [real-life] U.S. Marines—Robert Leckie, John Basilone and Eugene Sledge—from the first clash with the Japanese in the jungles of Guadalcanal, through the rain forests of Cape Gloucester, across the coral strongholds of Peleliu, up the black sand terraces of Iwo Jima, through the killing fields of Okinawa, to the return home after V-J Day.”

The epic 10-hour mini-series is based on the book “With the Old Breed” by Eugene Sledge, as well as original interviews conducted by the filmmakers and Hugh Ambrose, who is continuing the World War II oral history work begun by his father Stephen E. Ambrose, the author of the book “Band of Brothers” (and consultant to the first BoB).

Expected release is 2009. I cannot wait.

Whenever I think of the Pacific fighting during WWII, I'm reminded of Norman Mailer’s “The Naked and the Dead” (although Terence Mallick’s masterful film adaptation of “The Thin Red Line”, which tells the story of the Guadalcanal, is a close second).

Mailer, who participated in the fighting in the South Pacific, published “The Naked and the Dead” in ’48. It was the first novel about WWII written by a returning soldier. It was also his first novel, period. Considering his age at the time (25) and the book’s scope, the accomplishment is astounding. It truly is a tour de force.

At over 800 pages, the novel does not focus on a single protagonist, but rather follows and puts you inside the minds of soldiers from all ranks and walks of life. One moment you are the lowliest, shit-scared private. Next you’re the tough-as-nails, bully sergeant. Then the green but determined and courageous (yet foolhardy?) lieutenant. On and up to bumbling colonels and brilliant generals. What’s so incredible about this book is how Mailer understands these different psyches and places you right in the middle of them.

Another interesting thing about “N&D” is the influence it had – and continues to have – on the American war-telling narrative in the latter half of the 20th century, and onwards. I’ve surely seen more war films than I’ve read such books, but I am absolutely positive that most, if not all, great war films in the last 50 years borrowed devices from Mailer’s work. Whether it be thematic focus or metaphorical conceit, Mailer crafted a modern language through which to depict war, and that language continues to thrive today.

Incidentally, I am slated to see Mailer – one of my true literary heroes – speak in about a month. The final guest in our Speaker Series was to be Kurt Vonnegut, but sadly, he recently and suddenly passed. The night was given to Mailer and his son, author and playwright John Buffalo Mailer, instead. I can’t say I’m not thrilled.

I’ve actually had the good fortune to see him speak once before. It was the late ‘90s in San Francisco and I’d just read “The Armies of the Night”. He was as blusterous and fascinating as you’d imagine, telling one audience member that she was an “idiot” for the question she asked (and he was right).

Single night tix are still available if you’re interested. It’s sure to be a raucous affair.