From IMDB- ‘During World War I, a patriotic young American is rendered blind, deaf, limbless, and mute by a horrific artillery shell attack. Trapped in what’s left of his body, he desperately looks for a way to end his life.’

Well, this is quite the film. It has a huge emotional pull, amazing performances (Timothy Bottoms is always great on-screen, and this reminded me of The Last Picture Show, another film that poignantly captures a bygone era and the nostalgia around it), and a terrific anti-war message delivered without laying it on thick.

The ‘man trapped inside his body’ reminded me of the book The Diving Bell and the Butterfly too. Joe may be imprisoned by his limbless body but his imagination and memory are without such constraints.

Metallica fans will recognise the film and its dialogue from the song and accompanying video for One. The band bought the rights to the film (to stop having to pay royalties because of the clips included in the video) and released it on DVD as it was unavailable before this. Fans could finally see the song’s inspiration. The release also included a documentary about the film’s author/director, Dalton Trumbo. This was the only film he directed.

4.5 out of 5 stars