Silver screen icon Clint Eastwood is undeniably one of the cinema’s most decorated and brilliant presences, with the revered actor and director’s illustrious career spanning nearly seven decades. Eastwood has helmed a slew of critically acclaimed masterpieces like Unforgiven, Million Dollar Baby, and American Sniper, and in 2006, he tugged on the heartstrings of audiences all across the world when he created two companion war dramas depicting the 1945 Battle of Iwo Jima: Flags of Our Fathers and Letters from Iwo Jima.

Flags of Our Fathers is told from the perspective of American soldiers and the five Marines and Navy corpsmen who participated in the iconic raising of the flag, while Letters from Iwo Jima depicts the harrowing conflict from the point-of-view of Japanese soldiers. Revered film critic and Chicago Sun-Times writer Roger Ebert was completely enamored by the riveting picture and awarded the drama four stars, and 18 years later, Flags of Our Fathers remains a profoundly powerful representation of war.

Release Date October 18, 2006 Runtime 132 Writers William Broyles Jr. , Paul Haggis , James Bradley , Ron Powers Expand

Clint Eastwood’s Poignant and Powerful War Drama

Director and actor extraordinaire Clint Eastwood chronicled the harrowing events leading up to the 1945 Battle of Iwo Jima in the powerful war drama Flags of Our Fathers, which focuses on the five courageous Marines and Navy corpsmen who stood atop Mount Suribachi and raised the American flag during one of the final stages of the Pacific War. With a decorated ensemble cast including Ryan Phillippe, Jesse Bradford, and Adam Beach, the gripping film details the lives of the soldiers featured in the iconic picture, which went on to become a symbol of hope in the nation and made the service members heroic figures upon their return home.

Pharmacist’s Mate Second Class John Bradley (Phillippe), Private First Class Rene Gagnon (Bradford), and Private First Class Ira Hayes (Beach) reflect upon their transformative experiences and battle scars from serving during World War II and participating in the crucial conflict, with the drama showcasing the profound effects the war had on the rest of their vastly different lives. The deeply struggling and traumatized trio each handle their respective fame differently and struggle with the atrocities they witnessed despite being hailed as heroes in America.

Roger Ebert Was Blown Away by ‘Flags of Our Fathers’

Like his fellow critics and moviegoers, Roger Ebert was completely blown away by Eastwood’s poignant and profoundly moving drama, with the famed Chicago Sun-Times writer awarding the film four stars and commending the director for his ambitious and realistic depiction of war. Ebert raved about Eastwood only getting better and better with age as he utilizes his impressive intelligence and instincts when it comes to crafting compelling and satisfying projects. The celebrated critic also praised the performances of the phenomenal lead trio, whose on-screen counterparts all dealt with the horrors of war in vastly different fashions.

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John “Doc” Bradley served as the spokesman for the beloved soldiers and, throughout the press tour, reminded the country that “the heroes are the men we left behind,” while Rene Gagnon basked in all the attention and Ira Hayes rebelled against the idea of being celebrated as a hero. In the glowing review, Ebert pointed out how the Eastwood epic was indeed about camaraderie among the soldiers who paid tribute to the brave men who made the ultimate sacrifice, noting: “The men who survive the bloody carnage are often silent about it in later years, and one old man still has nightmares about a comrade lost on the battlefield.”

Along with its companion film Letters from Iwo Jima, which was released just two months later, Ebert ranked Flags of Our Fathers as the 7th best movie of the year in his popular top ten list for 2006, as countless other critics followed suit, like The Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, and The Washington Post. Ebert lauded Flags of Our Fathers for being a raw and heartfelt representation of war and for not shying away from showcasing the barbarity of battle and what it does to courageous soldiers:

“Eastwood’s two-film project is one of the most visionary of all efforts to depict the reality and meaning of battle. The battle scenes, alternating between closeup combat and awesome aerial shots of the bombardment and landing, are lean, violent, horrifying.”

Eastwood’s Critically Acclaimed Two-Part Cinema Spectacle

Flags of Our Fathers served as Eastwood’s tribute to the brave soldiers who selflessly fought during the Battle of Iwo Jima and gave their lives for their country, with the riveting war drama garnering two Academy Award nominations while also earning the prominent filmmaker a Golden Globe nod for Best Director. Though it failed to recoup its lofty price tag at the box office, grossing $65.9 million against a $90 million budget, the picture nonetheless tugged on the heartstrings of audiences all across the world, and 18 years later, Flags of Our Fathers still packs quite an emotional punch.

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Two months after the premiere of Flags of Our Fathers, Eastwood’s companion film Letters from Iwo Jima was released, which captivatingly depicted the epic battle from the perspective of the Japanese soldiers. The follow-up attracted even more acclaim than its predecessor and was a commercial success, earning $68.7 million while receiving four Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director. The National Board of Review of Motion Pictures declared Letters from Iwo Jima as the best film of the year, with CNN calling the drama “the only American movie of the year I won’t hesitate to call a masterpiece.”

Both Flags of Our Fathers and Letters from Iwo Jima winningly depict the perils of battle and its unfathomable effects on the soldiers who nobly served their country while also detailing how human conflict and violence can forever change society and the world. Eastwood was not afraid to question the truth regarding the nature of the war and did so by crafting two fantastic dramas that explore the monumental conflict from contrasting sides, proving he was undeniably one of Hollywood’s most exciting and innovative directors. Rent/Buy Flags of Our Fathers on Apple TV+.