This 1988 movie covers in detail the early beginnings of the American Revolution specifically the so called "shot heard around the world" when Massachusetts colonists faced British red coats at Lexington on 19 April 1775. The story is told through the eyes of a typical family headed by farmer Moses Cooper (Tommy Lee Jones), his wife Sarah (Susan Oakley) and their 15 year old son Adam (Chad Lowe). The movie quite faithfully follows the view of the events of this day from author Howard Fast. The reluctance of many colonists to fight and feeling of being pushed to war by escalating British aggression was well covered.
A substantial portion of the movie is devoted to a coming of age drama between the authoritarian father and his brooding and rebellious mid-adolescent son, an age old "spreading your wings" confrontation flavored with a teenage love interest with the daughter of a prominent leader in the village that is very well portrayed.
The dramatization of the initial skirmishes of the war are superbly re-created and the rapid evolution of guerrilla war tactics is well shown. The movie does stray into speculation on the source of the famous first shot placing the blame on local veteran of the Anglo Indian wars Solomon Chandler (Rip Torn) which is a matter of intense historical debate.
The movie was an interesting showpiece of the then rising star of Tommy Lee Jones before his A list successes in the '90s so his characteristic intensity is on display. Likewise it was the first lead acting role (and an excellent showing) for 18 year old Chad Lowe (younger brother of the more famous Brat Pack member Rob Lowe) whose portrayal of the rapid boy-to-man journey forged in combat was accurate.
A substantial portion of the movie is devoted to a coming of age drama between the authoritarian father and his brooding and rebellious mid-adolescent son, an age old "spreading your wings" confrontation flavored with a teenage love interest with the daughter of a prominent leader in the village that is very well portrayed.
The dramatization of the initial skirmishes of the war are superbly re-created and the rapid evolution of guerrilla war tactics is well shown. The movie does stray into speculation on the source of the famous first shot placing the blame on local veteran of the Anglo Indian wars Solomon Chandler (Rip Torn) which is a matter of intense historical debate.
The movie was an interesting showpiece of the then rising star of Tommy Lee Jones before his A list successes in the '90s so his characteristic intensity is on display. Likewise it was the first lead acting role (and an excellent showing) for 18 year old Chad Lowe (younger brother of the more famous Brat Pack member Rob Lowe) whose portrayal of the rapid boy-to-man journey forged in combat was accurate.