Catch-22

Catch-22. 1970 Paramount Pictures & Filmways, Inc.
Starring: Alan Arkin, Martin Balsam, Richard Benjamin, Norman Fell, Art Garfunkel, Jack Gilford, Bob Newhart, Anthony Perkins, Paula Prentiss, Martin Sheen, Jon Voight, Orson Welles
Director: Mike Nichols
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Mike Nichols directed this film adaption of Joseph Heller's novel of the same name. It was overshadowed at the box office in 1970 by Robert Altman's M*A*S*H, but it still boasts an impressive cast of talent. In addition to his role, Buck Henry also helped Nichols write the screenplay.

Captain John J. Yossarian (Arkin) is a USAAF B-25 bombardier. He and the other members of his squadron are stationed on the island Pianosa in the Mediterranean Sea during World War II. Yossarian is also desperately trying to avoid combat duty, and finds out that no matter how instable he acts, the Army Air Corps trumps him at every turn. His superiors and peers all seem to be genuinely insane, or utterly incompetent, and they all seem very happy to function under irrational orders.

Two examples of the other personnel at the base are Lieutenant Milo Minderbinder (Voight), the mess officer at the base who is obsessed with expanding his "Syndicate", trading goods on the black market, and somehow running a giant business while serving in the military. Bob Newhart plays Captain Major Major Major, who is quickly promoted to Major, making him Major Major Major Major. Upon his promotion, he becomes a recluse, signing false names to paperwork requiring his signature, and entering his office by crawling along a ditch before jumping through a window.

Yossarian finally confronts his personal catch-22: Everyone knows the war is crazy, and only crazy men can be relieved of duty. But if you are sane enough to do crazy things to get out of fighting, it only displays that you are perfectly aware that the war is crazy, and therefore, you must be fit enough to serve. You'll have to keep fighting. Knowing that, he flees the base at the end of the movie and paddles away in a life raft.

Catch-22 is a truly bizarre, but funny film, and one that might need to be viewed more than once to be truly appreciated. Highly recommended.