Coming Home [DVD]

"Coming Home" is a film that has gotten better with age. When I first saw it I didn't like it because I was still angry with Hanoi Jane and thought the film too negative about the people who fought the war. I was anti-war but valued the sacrifices of those who fought in the conflict, like several of my friends and acquaintances.After several more viewings over the years and having witnessed the effects of PTSD as a mental health professional, I appreciate the theme of damage that that war inflicted upon the warriors, both physical and emotional/ psychological.I highly recommend "Coming Home" as one of the most effective films, along with "Born on the Fourth of July" and "The Deer Hunter", about the disturbing results of [any] war on the warriors.

The same year that The Deer Hunter (Michael Cimino's equally vital view of the immediate and lingering effects of the Vietnam War), Coming Home was released. Focusing more on the wounded veterans and the wives left behind, Coming Home is an exploration of the hidden wounds that appear alongside the physical. Hal Ashby (Harold and Maude, Shampoo), as empathetic director as there ever was, goes deep into the feelings of characters, revealing heartache and frustration in their faces and their body language. Complemented by a nuanced and often direct screenplay by Waldo Salt and Robert Jones, Coming Home is less diatribe and more uncomfortable love story about people lost in a confused era and informed by confusing messages. Jon Voight gives arguably his best performance (unrecognizable for those mostly familiar with his work on Showtime's Ray Donovan or odd rants on Fox News) and Jane Fonda is a revelation. There was much bad press about Fonda's politics and wartime activities, which made the film struggle with certain demographics. Her actions during the Vietnam War are enormously troubling and undeniably naive. Yet, despite those unsettling issues, this is an important film about "the war at home", and is necessary viewing for those interested in the subject, its cultural implications, and the enduring power of movies to capture moments of societal drama in the best way. Alongside "The Best Years of Our Lives", "Platoon", "All Quiet on the Western Front" and others, Coming Home presents its subject with startling realism and great heart, mostly resisting the temptation to be polemic. The DVD is three stars in terms of quality, with a slight murkiness in the transfer that is not too terribly distracting. Haskell Weller's cinematography deserves Blu-Ray and widescreen viewing. The extras and video commentary are interesting, but the film itself speaks loudest and most clearly.

A flawed film. But also a film of tremendous grace, power, and originality.The flaws; Bruce Dern's character is criminally underdeveloped, and comes off more as a cliché than the other two leads, which damages the power of the film's climax. For the film to fully work, we have to believe that Fonda would consider staying with this man, who starts as a martinet, and ends up frightening unbalanced, and dangerous, while Jon Voight seems a near saint. Fonda's character also starts off as a cliché, but deepens quickly as the film goes on. And some of the use of 60s rock songs are bit too on the nose, their comments a bit too obvious.Yet all that said, there is also magic here; in Jon Voight's magnificent performance - arguably the best he's done, in Jane Fonda's fine work, iIn the feeling of almost documentary realism in the moments of their relationship, in the radical (especially for it's time) approach to dealing with sex and a paraplegic, and in facing up to the scars of Viet Nam of individuals and a nation. Haskel Wexler's cinematography is also very strong. This is a film who's special moments so stick with me (e.g. Voight's speech to a bunch of high school kids) that I can look past the flies in the ointment.The DVD release is pretty awful, with flawed and distorted sound that is really hard to take, especially for a film where a music soundtrack is crucial. But the blu-ray, while not reference quality, is a huge step up in both the audio and the video.

Many comments have been written of both the performances and real life actions of the main actors (Jane Fonda and Jon Voight), but my review isn't going to focus on that. I've seen many films that detail life during and after the Vietnam War, but this film really brings home the feeling of pain of war all around. In an interview given years ago, Bruce Dern (in one of his finest performances) said that Jane and Jon were the love story, but his character was *the* story. Without the journey of Bob Hyde, this movie would not have been the same.He's not a likeable character at first, but watch him as the film progresses and the war wears down on him. He becomes an angry, broken man devastated equally by what he has been a part of and the affair he becomes aware of. Hal Ashby was just such a gifted director, a rare one that allowed emotions to surface slowly as the plot unfolds. Everyone in the movie makes mistakes. Everyone has an enormous amount of pain inflicted on them. There are victims all around and ghosts carried around by everyone. No one escapes unmarked.This is an excellent movie with top notch performances, nuanced direction and one of the best soundtracks you'll ever get. Don't miss it.

What a great movie - can't believe I'd never even heard of it before last week. Why is it not still in circulation?The sound quality is the only thing that let's it down, to be honest it is terrible, but the storyline and filming are first class.Obviously the film is quite dated now, but Luke Martin (played by Jon Voight)is just gorgeous and shines throughout the film.When we first meet Luke he is stuck in the VA hospital, strapped face down on a bed and roaming the wards with the aid of two sticks. He is obviously upset and angry at not being looked after properly (the hospital is understaffed) - he complains of not being bathed often enough or having his urine bag emptied and is probably frustrated with being stuck in a hospital bed for so long because of his injury.This is when he first meets Sally (Jane Fonda) and she gets to see the full strength his anger as he beats up a medicine trolley with his stick!However, as soon as Luke gets his freedom and is given a wheelchair he becomes a new man - he is mobile again. From then on his relationship with Sally intensifies and they get closer and closer until the day her husband returns from Vietnam...Please watch this film, it is brillaint and most of the issues are still relevant today.

Quite lengthy but a film we continue to watch, beautifully filmed a great story

I can not play the disc.I asked to RAREWAVES, not sending the Blu Ray.I bought a dvd at Amazon de of this film.COMING HOME.The Blu Ray, not to play for me is nr A, region 1.Paul

Coming Home is very much a film of it's time and packs a powerful anti-war punch. If you are from that generation it speaks volumes. It is well scripted and the acting is superb although I felt Druce Dern's character was a little wooden at times but Jane Fonda and John Voight are very good.The other great thing about this film is the music.It is well worth watching and is very much a glimpse into the past.GJP - UK

Coming home is one of the best acted films of the 70,s,the soundtrack is full of classic music of the era it is set in late 60,s.T picture quality is fine on my blu-ray,the sound is quiet but i allways remember this film as a jumbled mix of speech,overall a great film and a powerful home watching experience.