Critic's Grade: A+

Edward Zwick's Civil War epic "Glory" tackles the little-known fact that distinguished the 54 Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry from others in the Union army: it was made up primarily of black men, some free Nothern blacks, others escaped slaves from the South. In the events leading up to the Battle of Fort Wagner at Charleston, South Carolina, on July 18, 1863, we watch as the men become better-trained for combat, only to see that at the time, Northern intentions for this black regiment focused more on things like putting on a show for the abolitionists, or using them as a means to destroy Southern towns and collect profit off of the goods they lift from the dwellings.

But unlike many war films of the past, "Glory" is not simply about combat strategy and battle training. It's about the camaraderie of soldiers, and the courage and bravery that it takes for these men to commit to the things they have set out to accomplish. The men of the 54th Regiment knew that they would never prove themselves as men unless they were given the chance to show the North what they were made of; in the end, it took the loss of their lives to show those watching that heroes come in all colors.

The film is told from the perspective of Colonel Robert Gould Shaw (Matthew Broderick), the son of abolitionist parents who, after experiencing first-hand the horrors of the Battle of Antietam, opts to lead the 54th, already aware that his men may never even be given a chance to see battle. From the beginning, he takes a stern approach to training, insisting that his majors discipline the soldiers and use whatever means possible to emphasize the importance of agility, speed, and endurance. The instinct is to see his behavior as overly aggressive, as if the filmmakers are aiming at a master/slave relationship between Gould and his men; you have to keep in mind. however, that he's seen battle, and knows what to expect.

The men of the 54th are comprised of a variety of men from different backgrounds and places. Among them is John Rawlins (Morgan Freeman), a former gravedigger who is later made Sergeant Major by Shaw; Rawlins acts as the conduit through which Shaw later understands that his men have learned all that they need to know about combat... they just need to be given a chance. Then there is Private Trip (Denzel Washington), a runaway slave who is a hothead to both his superiors and his fellow black soldiers; he does, however, remain a constant voice of reason, especially when it is learned that the black soldiers will not be getting the same $13 monthly wage as their white comrades.

It is at this point that the white and black soldiers begin to come to an understanding of one another, and begin forming bonds and relationships that strengthen their resolve and prepare them emotionally for battle. Like any good war movie, "Glory" is no exception to the rules of showing us various instances of camaraderie, both on and off the battlefield. It establishes early on in the second half that the men are there for one another unconditionally, and are willing to lay down their lives if necessary for the sake of their Union brothers.

In terms of production, the film is well-shot and affectingly told. It's not merely a history lesson, but history coming to life in a new and exciting way. The costumes, sets, and staging of the battle sequences all work together in bringing the period of the Civil War to accurate life, while the incorporation of some very effective performances from both the lead and supporting cast, and even the extras, brings home the emotional core of the film. We feel for these men on a level higher than that of regular war films were strategy and planning oust connection and humanity.

The central focus of "Glory," as understood by me, is that until this point in time during the Civil War, there wasn't much of a difference in the attitudes towards blacks between the North and the South aside from slavery itself. Sure, there were Northern abolitionists who sought to emancipate those kept in bondage, but the movie makes it quite clear, in small instances, that they were still considered unequal in one way or another. It took the men of the 54th Regiment to turn this attitude around (after their defeat, 180,000 blacks enlisted in the Union army, and were credited by Lincoln as turning the tide of war). This film is a testament to the true bravery, courage, and determination not just of soldiers, but of men who believed in their cause and in themselves. It's an amazing achievement.

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