A Bright Shining Lie
Seen it?1998 | 118 min | Drama, War, TV Movie
Monday Morning Maybeearly ratingWhy it’s a Monday Morning Maybe
With almost no lasting buzz and soft box office, this one could be a tough watch. Keep your phone handy.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for history buffs. If you loved Platoon or Apocalypse Now, start here.
- The mood
- Intense.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 58 min.
- What might put you off
- Nothing much for most grown-ups.
Something in his past keeps career Army man John Paul Vann from advancing past colonel. He views being sent to Vietnam as part of the US military advisory force a stepping stone to promotion. However, he disagrees vocally (and on the record) with the way the war is being run and is forced to leave the military. Returning to Vietnam as a civilian working with the Army, he comes to despise some South Vietnamese officers while he takes charge of some of the U.S. forces and continues his liaisons with Vietnamese women.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsNot counted
Not enough reviews on record yet
- AudiencesNot counted
Not measured yet: not enough ratings
- AwardsBelow par
Nominated for 1 Emmy and 1 Golden Globe.
- Reach & staying powerBelow par
Streaming release that reached a small audience so far; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactWeak
About 8K people sought it out in the past year
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Cast & crew
Directed by Terry George
- Bill PaxtonJohn Paul Vann
- Amy MadiganMary Jane Vann
- Donal LogueSteven Burnett
- Robert John BurkeFrank Drummond
- Vivian WuLee
- Ed LauterGeneral Weyand
- Kurtwood SmithGeneral Westmoreland
- Eric BogosianDoug Elders
- James RebhornAmbassador
- Les MauColonel Dinh