Francis Ford Coppola's astute script and George C. Scott's ironclad charisma give this portrait of WWII's "blood and guts" general an unexpectedly wide scope. That the panorama doesnt rip at the seems is testament to Schaffners unflinching, undaunted direction of the massive reputations cinematic, artistic and most importantly of all, perhaps, historical at stake.
Thanks to Scotts complete immersion in the lead role and a timeframe that negotiates a perfect rise and fall cycle in Pattons military career (precocious tank commanding leads to title of Occupation Commander of Germany leads to bitchy relief from duty) its impossible to rank the eponymous yank into either of the two personality types commentators have for him: slapdash egomaniac or monumental national hero. As such, Patton works as an intensely realistic character study and not just a spectacular blitz on the cinema of war. Its both. And more.