I thought that the two guys stuck in no-man's land in Afghanistan should have been given more time and attention. Instead we hear Cruise jabbering w/ Streep about how the Iraq war went so wrong, the media was in bed w/ the gov't and letting it happen, while everyone else has the good life in the States(college, etc) and don't have to sacrifice a thing as the war drones on, and on. More or less this was the plot.
I liked Cruise, Streep, Redford. I thought the collegiate stuff was weaker though than the other two story lines, the kid spinning his tires in Redford's class wasn't exactly a riveting plot line.
It's a liberal movie done by a liberal director. That's clear. The two guys surrounded by the Taliban are clearly shot inside a set, you never really get the sense that you're out in some godforsaken mtn plateau in winter while all hell breaks lose. That's a shame.
Overall I thought it was a missed opportunity, well intentioned and ringing more true in it's themes than the actual portrayals, if that makes sense. You feel for the two soldiers-one black, one Mexican-who die at the end-but you also never Really get to know them beforehand, they're mostly Types--and that's the biggest failing here.
**1/2 outta **** but you've seen better.
I liked Cruise, Streep, Redford. I thought the collegiate stuff was weaker though than the other two story lines, the kid spinning his tires in Redford's class wasn't exactly a riveting plot line.
It's a liberal movie done by a liberal director. That's clear. The two guys surrounded by the Taliban are clearly shot inside a set, you never really get the sense that you're out in some godforsaken mtn plateau in winter while all hell breaks lose. That's a shame.
Overall I thought it was a missed opportunity, well intentioned and ringing more true in it's themes than the actual portrayals, if that makes sense. You feel for the two soldiers-one black, one Mexican-who die at the end-but you also never Really get to know them beforehand, they're mostly Types--and that's the biggest failing here.
**1/2 outta **** but you've seen better.