The Vietnam War (TV) (2017)

"The Vietnam War" attempts to establish clarity by going back in time, beginning the story not in the 1960s, but in 1858, filing through distant history to help provide narrative direction, using the French colonization of Indochina as a starting point, providing necessary context for power plays to come. Burns and Novick inch slowly along, but they reach the meat of the matter quickly, ultimately focusing on the behavior and decision-making abilities of three U.S. Presidents: Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon. While other leaders were involved with war plans, the big three defined the conflict, with the documentary providing an eye-opening look at the ways of self-preservation in politics, finding the men more interested in brightening their reelection campaigns than protecting lives. It's sickening, but there's a lot of stomach-churning material in "The Vietnam War," which doesn't focus completely on White House ego, making sure the Vietnamese perspective, North and South, is maintained throughout the epic documentary journey.

Footage from the conflict is amazing and plentiful, sharply edited and juiced with sound effects to help bring terror to life, filling the screen with images of panicked young men blasting away with guns, while planes and helicopters swarm the sky, dropping countless bombs. There are scoring efforts from Yo-Yo Ma and Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross the support the film's movement, finding musical pressure points along the way, also identifying cultural sounds (the addition of rock and folk-laden soundtrack is expected, but remains perfect). However, the real achievement of "The Vietnam War" are the interviews, with Burns and Novick sitting down with all types of soldiers and civilians to achieve some sense of clarity to the ongoing hostility. The conversations are unsettlingly candid, almost therapeutic in their intensity as those personally involved in the war share memories from their darkest years, some finally releasing torment that's been building for decades. Such a spotlight is necessary for the Viet Cong mobilization, offering valuable insight into the country's divide and Communist ambition, with Burns and Novick remaining respectful of Vietnamese participation.

Episodes:

01. "Déjà Vu (1858-1961)" (83:32)
02. "Riding the Tiger (1961-1963)" (84:39)
03. "The River Styx (January 1964 – December 1965)" (116:07)
04. "Resolve (January 1966 – June 1967)" (115:37)
05. "This Is What We Do (July 1967 – December 1967)" (83:30)
06. "Things Fall Apart (January 1968 – July 1968)" (85:59)
07. "The Veneer of Civilization (June 1968 – May 1969)" (109:46)
08. "The History of the World (April 1969 – May 1970)" (110:21)
09. "A Disrespectful Loyalty (May 1970 – March 1973)" (110:44)
10. "The Weight of Memory (March 1973 – Onward)" (109:07)