Last Days in Vietnam Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		0.0
Overall		4.0

Last Days in Vietnam Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf April 18, 2015

As viewed throughout a multitude of charged filmmaking efforts from the 1970s and ‘80s (providing an evolution to the classic war movie), most cinematic dissections of the Vietnam War concentrated on the either the early years of the conflict, when morale was high and troops were alert and plentiful, or the thick of the fight, highlighting a drain of innocence and military interest as the reality of the conflict and its hunger for human lives was finally being identified and criticized. Remaining true to its title, “Last Days in Vietnam” avoids a grander scope of military activity, instead paying specific attention to the final, bitter moments of the American presence in Southeast Asia, endeavoring to understand numerous events of pure chaos that erupted once evacuation procedures lost their ability to manage hordes of desperate refugees. A vital piece in the ongoing puzzle of the conflict, “Last Days in Vietnam” is an eye-opening documentary that captures the charged emotions and troubled leadership that fed into an overall sense of panic across the land -- a surge of helplessness felt by all sides.

Directed by Rory Kennedy (daughter of Robert F. Kennedy, with credits that include “Ghosts of Abu Ghraib” and “Ethel,” a documentary about her mother), “Last Days in Vietnam” takes viewers to April, 1975 -- an uncertain time in American history and a tense two years after the Paris Peace Accords were created in a bold attempt to bring stillness to a volatile land, with troops from North and South Vietnam agreeing to a cease fire featuring carefully worded retaliatory measures if broken. It was a tentative union of hope punctured by President Nixon’s sudden resignation due to the Watergate scandal, giving the North an opportunity to test American interest in a redeployment of troops, reigniting a disastrous war. While President Ford diligently worked to press congress for cash, hoping to financially lubricate a renewed exit strategy that kept order and repelled the enemy as key figures and their families were pulled out of the country, the North commenced a concentrated takeover plan of the country’s most sensitive targets, working their way to Saigon, endeavoring to spread fear across the land. President Ford didn’t receive his monetary request, rejected as ridiculous spending in a financially taxed post-war time, leaving those still living inside Vietnam to work out their own plans of escape, unaware of the surging demand to come.

“Last Days in Vietnam” is a gripping, well-documented investigation of this harrowing time, endeavoring to provide a deeper understanding of the participants, taking moments to inspect their blurred political perspective and mournful memories of countrywide panic. Perhaps the most important figure in this chaotic brew is Ambassador Graham Martin, a prideful man who remained a defiant, vocal supporter of the war, refusing to admit defeat as the North drew closer to Saigon. While his underlings and military officials saw the writing on the wall when it came to the security of the city, Ambassador Martin refused to entertain increasingly insistent evacuation requests, inspiring a secret network of codes and meeting points where concerned Americans could smuggle friends, family, and needy locals out of the country, getting a needed jumpstart on the turmoil to come. Ambassador Martin isn’t entirely vilified by Kennedy, instead emphasized as a prime example of the stagnant American delusion that extended the bulk of the Vietnam War for over a decade.

Gathering an impressively varied collection of film and photo evidence from private and public sources, while beefing up needed informational clarity with CG-animated maps to help define troop movement and select pressure points in the region, Kennedy delivers a relatively straightforward examination of this turbulent time, with specific attention placed on the South’s crippled military efforts and increasing community bedlam, where 500,000 civilians swarmed planes, trucks, and boats to escape Saigon. A major confluence of fear and confusion was found at the American Embassy -- a compound with concrete walls that permitted temporary sanctuary for those worriedly waiting for a detailed evacuation. Of course, such plans fell through, putting pressure on overwhelmed helicopters and damaged ships to quickly scoop bodies out of the country, without a clear exit strategy to help guide the herculean mission. Driven by duty and emotion after years spent cohabitating with locals, the Americans cleared out as many refugees as possible, and “Last Days in Vietnam” displays such chilling footage of swarming masses and dangerously perilous emergency landings, inspecting the escalating confusion.

“Last Days in Vietnam” is presented on two Blu-rays, the first containing the Theatrical Cut (98:26), and the second offering an Extended Cut (114:21).

Last Days in Vietnam Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

"Last Days of Vietnam" arrives on Blu-ray with an AVC encoded (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation that manages the challenge of merging multiple film and video sources quite well. File footage and television broadcasts show obvious wear and tear, yet emerge with minimal distraction, almost seamlessly worked into the overall flow of the documentary. Interview footage provides the best visual evidence of what the Blu-ray offers, delivering sharp detail on faces, finding emotionality emerging from the subjects easy to identify, while aging provides a playground for HD cinematography, capturing all types of skin textures and subtle reactions. Colors are defined and communicative. While interviewees are dressed in respectful hues (browns and blacks), graphics pump bold reds, and visits to street life capture color in commercial signage and clothing. Skintones are natural. Shadow detail is sharp and deep. Some very minor banding is detected during the viewing experience.

Last Days in Vietnam Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 Dolby Digital sound mix carries surprising immersion for a documentary, though true directional activity isn't explored in a substantial manner. Surrounds are largely reserved to push out scoring, which preserves musicianship and sets a circular tone. Interview segments deliver a little more depth than typically experienced, contributing to a low-end that carries on to war footage and helicopter flybys. Voices sound secure, with nuance and purpose. Atmospherics are sweetened to satisfaction, bringing dimension to aged footage, with sharp gunfire and wider crowd dynamic.

Last Days in Vietnam Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

There's no supplementary material included on these discs.

Last Days in Vietnam Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Interviews with American military officials and a handful of Vietnamese witnesses help to illuminate the complex feelings in play, with the sting of loss still potent to a few of the participants, who share troubling personal stories while visibly grinding trough renewed stress. However, Kennedy doesn't turn the documentary into an overwhelmingly emotional event, spending more time with the particulars of the evacuation and its reverberations across Vietnam and America. "Last Days of Vietnam" is sharp and enlightening, supplying a rich appreciation nuanced motivation when it comes to this overlooked segment of the conflict, helping viewers to comprehend the madness of the moment, with its flashes of hubris, improvised humanitarianism, and self-preservation.