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Gettysburg
1993 254 min United States of America PG 16+
★7.5
Drama, History, War
Director: Ron Maxwell
🎭 Based on
«The Killer Angels»
byMichael Shaara
Trailers
Description
In the summer of 1863, General Robert E. Lee leads the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia into Gettysburg, Pennsylvania with the goal of marching through to Washington, D.C. The Union Army of the Potomac, under the command of General George G. Meade, forms a defensive position to confront the rebel forces in what will prove to be the decisive battle of the American Civil War.
Budget:
$20M
US Gross:
$10.77M
Worldwide:
$10.77M
Starring
Tom Berenger
Actor
Martin Sheen
Actor
Stephen Lang
Actor
Awards
1 win & 1 nomination total
Key opinion
Gettysburg is a grand, meticulously researched historical epic that prioritizes technical authenticity and battlefield staging over modern cinematic tropes. While some viewers are enthralled by its immersive, documentary-like attention to detail, others find the massive runtime and heavy reliance on dialogue-driven historical exposition to be lethargic.
| Production | The film achieves an exceptional level of authenticity by utilizing thousands of reenactors and practical effects instead of CGI to depict 19th-century combat. | |
| Acting | Jeff Daniels delivers a compelling and masterful performance as Joshua Chamberlain that serves as the emotional anchor of the film. | |
| Score | The score is polarizing; some find it effectively emotional and stirring, while others label it as overly bombastic and melodramatic. | |
| Runtime | The four-hour runtime is a point of contention: supporters feel it allows for necessary immersion and historical depth, whereas detractors argue the pacing is bloated and exhausting. | |
| Acting | The portrayals of historical figures are inconsistent, with some actors praised for their embodiment of the era, while others like Martin Sheen are criticized as miscast or inaccurate to the public record. |