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Miracle at St. Anna
2008 160 min Italy, United States of America R 16+
★5.6
Drama, War
Director: Spike Lee
Trailers
Description
Miracle at St. Anna chronicles the story of four American soldiers who are members of the all-black 92nd "Buffalo Soldier" Division stationed in Tuscany, Italy during World War II.
Budget:
$45M
US Gross:
$7.92M
Worldwide:
$9.32M
Starring
Derek Luke
Actor
Michael Ealy
Actor
Laz Alonso
Actor
Awards
1 win & 10 nominations total
Key opinion
Miracle at St. Anna is a polarizing war drama that attempts to blend a 1940s Italian campaign with a 1980s New York murder mystery. While some viewers appreciate its sincere tone and historical focus, many critics find the narrative disjointed, heavy-handed in its political messaging, and overly sluggish in its execution.
| Screenplay | The narrative structure feels disjointed and cluttered, struggling to effectively bridge the parallel timelines of 1944 Italy and 1980s New York. | |
| Theme | The portrayal of non-Black characters frequently relies on simplistic caricatures, undermining the film's attempts at social commentary. | |
| Theme | Opinions on the film's political framing are sharply divided, with some praising its focus on the Black experience in WWII and others condemning the messaging as intrusive, vulgar, and overly biased. | |
| Pacing | The near three-hour runtime is a point of contention; some perceive it as a necessary contemplative tempo, while others find the pacing exhausting and sluggish. | |
| Cinematography | The cinematography is cited by some as a visual strength that adds a sincere, classic aesthetic, though others find the visual approach dull and fragmented. |