Catch-22 (DVD)

Hard to imagine any film really capturing the essence of Joseph Heller's book - if you want the experience of the book's greatness, then maybe you should read the book. Mike Nichols over-ambitious but nevertheless blackly entertaining film works partially because many of the wonderful characters, and the general tone of bleak Kafkaesque nightmare are carried over quite well. With its random cruelty and idiotic, out-of-control view of military hierarchy, it's still a powerful anti-war film and a very funny piece of work. The other strong element is simply the staggeringly good cast - Alan Arkin, Jon Voight, Anthony Perkins, Orson Welles to name but ...  Read the complete review

Joseph Heller's cult novel of the Second World War is brought to the screen in this superb film. Described as one of the best anti-war movies, it brilliantly satirises the insanity of military bureaucracy. Bombardier Yossarian is part of the US campaign to take Italy, flying increasing numbers of bombing missions and seeing the lunacy of conflict all around him. The catch of the title, explained to Yossarian by his doctor, is so famous it became a cliché. If you are insane, you don't have to fight. But if you don't want to fight, you must be sane. This twisted logic leaves Yossarian at the mercy of the real lunatics, those in command. Figures abound ...  Read the complete review