The critically acclaimed Second World War mini-series 'Catch-22,' featuring George Clooney in a starring role, is currently available to stream on Prime Video. Originally debuting in 2019, the six-part series has been hailed as a 'must watch' by viewers, particularly those who are fans of classics like 'Band of Brothers.'
What Is 'Catch-22' About?
Based on Joseph Heller's cherished 1961 novel of the same name, 'Catch-22' follows Captain John Yossarian, played by Christopher Abbott, and his fellow airmen during their Second World War service. Their path to discharge hinges on completing a specified number of missions. However, just as they approach being stood down, the mission count is increased, plunging them straight back into peril. The series chronicles Yossarian's efforts to evade frontline duty by pretending to be insane, only to discover that those who are genuinely mad simply continue flying their missions anyway.
Star-Studded Cast and Crew
The stellar cast includes George Clooney as Scheisskopf, Emmy winner and 'Argo' star Kyle Chandler as Colonel Cathcart, 'Godfather of Harlem's Rafi Gavron as Aarfy, 'Reacher's Daniel David Stewart as Milo, and 'Major Crimes' Graham Patrick Martin as Orr, among others. In addition to his acting contribution, Clooney also helmed two episodes of the series and served as executive producer.
Critical and Audience Reception
Following the 1970 film adaptation, the 2019 television version of 'Catch-22' has been warmly welcomed, achieving an 84% fresh rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes and an 82% audience approval score. Numerous viewers have also lauded the programme on IMDb, with one enthusiastic 10/10 review stating: 'Fantastic. The entire cast of this series is amazing. It has all the drama and humor but not as slap stick as the movie. I've been glued to the TV since it was released. You will fall in love with these characters and the actors who portray them.'
Another viewer observed: 'Wonderful rendering of the classic satirical novel. This is a very enjoyable watch, especially if you read the book and saw the movie way back when they were "a thing." The acting is superb and the battle scenes are realistic but not too graphically violent. I appreciate a director and writer who do not feel they must gross us out at every turn. It has a nice subtlety and that was lacking in the original movie.'
A further reviewer declared: 'One of the greatest books ever written, certainly as an anti-war film.' They proceeded to commend the lead actor: 'His face is so emotive and he captured the complexity of his character.' They concluded with: 'For those of you who totally missed the point and were expecting a regular war movie, did you get what the title means?' A fourth viewer declared it 'a must watch' and noted: 'Perfect mix of comedy and drama. Made me laugh one second and get emotional the next.'
Where to Watch
'Catch-22' is streaming on Prime Video and is available to rent on Apple TV+. Fans of WWII dramas can get 30 days' free access to Amazon Prime, which includes this series, by signing up for a trial.
