Alan Arkin portrays Yossarian, a bombardier in World War II who is trying to find a way to be declared unfit for duty and sent home. After countless bombing runs over Italy, he’s weary of the danger and increasingly doubtful about his odds of survival. He also has reservations regarding his commanding officer, Cathcart – played by Martin Balsam – who seems intent on extending tours of service whenever one is completed. Yossarian develops a scheme that puts his sanity in question, though this approach carries its own dangers. What follows is an intricate examination of the psychological toll of war. While I felt the lighter comedic aspects became tiresome rather rapidly, it does provide a genuinely serious consideration of how warfare can impact someone’s psyche. The unrelenting demands of staying alert and prepared while also confronting daily peril and loss are effectively shown in Mike Nichols' film version of Joseph Heller's moving novel. A strong ensemble cast supports the production, though their appearances are brief and serve to enhance Arkin’s performance as events become more pressing for his character. The movie is quite lengthy, and I felt that the final third dragged a little and seemed somewhat forced; however, it offers an intriguing perspective on what wartime might have been like and how it affected those who lived through it, and at times, the story's darker aspects are strikingly powerful.

Source on TMDB