84C MoPic
| 84C MoPic | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Patrick Sheane Duncan |
| Written by | Patrick Sheane Duncan |
| Produced by | Michael Nolin |
| Edited by | Stephen Purvis |
| Music by | Donovan |
| Distributed by | New Century Vista Film Company |
Release date |
|
Running time | 95 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Languages | English Vietnamese |
| Box office | $154,264 (US) |
84C MoPic (also known as 84 Charlie MoPic) is a 1989 American independent war film drama directed by Patrick Sheane Duncan.
Story
The film is a mock documentary of a Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol (LRRP) mission during the Vietnam War. The point of view is from a cameraman following a LRRP team on a five-day patrol deep in "Indian Country" (territory controlled by the North Vietnamese). The cameraman is nicknamed "MoPic" by the team, because of his alphanumeric military occupational specialty, 84C20, Motion Picture Specialist. The supposedly routine mission, however, goes wrong and eventually turns into a struggle for survival.
Cast
- Jonathan Emerson as LT
- Nicholas Cascone as Easy
- Jason Tomlins as Pretty Boy
- Christopher Burgard as Hammer
- Glenn Morshower as Cracker
- Richard Brooks as OD
- Byron Thames as MoPic
Production
84C MoPic was filmed on a low budget in Southern California. The film is one of the earlier examples of found footage, a style famously implemented by The Blair Witch Project and Paranormal Activity.
Reception
84 Charlie MoPic has an 83% "Fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 6 reviews.[1] Roger Ebert, awarding the film three stars out of four, wrote:
"84 Charlie MoPic" deserves a place by itself among the films about Vietnam. It is a brave and original attempt to record nothing more or less than the actual daily experience of a unit on patrol, drawn out of the memories of men who were there. I’ve never seen a combat movie that seemed this close to actual experience, to the kinds of hard lessons that soldiers are taught by their enemies. The filmmakers have earned their right to shoot with a subjective camera — because the eyes we are really seeing through are their own."[2]
The film received three nominations:
- 1989 Sundance Film Festival, Grand Jury Prize, Dramatic (Patrick Sheane Duncan)
- 1990 Independent Spirit Award, Best First Feature, Patrick Sheane Duncan (Director); Michael Nolin (Producer)
- 1990 Independent Spirit Award, Best Screenplay, Patrick Sheane Duncan[3]
The film is listed among recommended Vietnam war films in a blog post on the Council on Foreign Relations.[4]
References
- ^ "84 Charlie MoPic," RottenTomatoes.com. Accessed May 9, 2018.
- ^ Ebert, Roger. "84 Charlie MoPic," Chicago Sun-Times (April 28, 1989).
- ^ 84C MoPic at IMDb
- ^ Lindsay, James M. "Ten More Vietnam War Movies," Council on Foreign Relations website (May 20, 2017).
External links
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