Ben Fountain's award-winning-novel-adapted-to-film shows us world through the eyes of military soldiers. It's a story that takes liberty to speak on behalf of the nation's heroes. How are they the very same to our day-to-day citizens? How are they affected physically & mentally by the wars they encounter? What are their sacrifices by stepping on such a journey? How they too yearn for a normal life like most of us have? These are the questions tapped.
While the idea is somewhat refreshing, it's the script that falters to impress. For most of the runtime, we are left wondering the protagonist's dramatic need. We aren't inside the main character's head to know what's running in it either. With unfunny quips too at that, the picture opened up as a draggy bore. Dramatic need cannot be a suspense, and that's the rule.
It's not until when we decide to give up on the movie, that it begins to get captivating a little. Precisely, just right before the halftime walk sequence. That's when things start to sink in. That's when we get to embrace the moment of what's going on. Narration begins to prosper progressively. Deal about the grant offered for a film project & the final section of gun battle are staggeringly intense sequences! And Garrett Hedlund as Sergeant David Dime, gold!
Post this, we begin to appreciate the impromptu moments more. Symbolic scenes such as the Hummer turning into a battle tank became enjoyable. We pity the soldiers for inside each of them, is a teenager, father, uncle, brother or human, like us. Issues such as PTSD are crucial to be brought up for awareness too.
Technicality wise, the screenplay doesn't transit from one to another zone quite fluently. The high frame rate is uncomfortable to watch, especially when the camera sweeps from left to right or the reverse. However, Jeff & Mychael Danna's score is sure to disturb your hearts emotionally.
For what is a celebration to one, is a death threat to others. Home is a perspective-based conceptus. And, there just isn't a way out of hell for some. To a point where hell is home now.