Clint Eastwood has lost the plot... poor show!!

Rating: 1/10 (29 January 2015)

Usually Clint makes intelligent, well conceived and executed films. This is a major exception to that rule.
I am quite shocked at the degree to which American Nationalism seeps into the core of this film, and even more surprised it would be considered for an Academy Award.
There's nothing wrong with the premise of the film, and the technical execution is great... it is what the plot does, and more what it does NOT do, which is such a disappointment.
The issue of America's appalling track record of interference and manipulation in Asia is well known and documented, but aside from a few subtle comments from minor characters in the movie, the presiding flavour is one of heroism and sacrifice. That, is offensive to most the people living on this planet, myself included.
The flag waving and conversation about "em savages" would all be well and good... IF it was done ironically, or to counterpoint the underlying message that a war like that is pointless, destructive, if not illegal. Those sentiments do not come across. There was no attempt to show the Iraqi people as normal people who just want to live their lives with their families, in peace. The only time we see an Iraqi family who show kindness to the American troops by offering them a meal, guess what? They turn out to be "evildoers, terrorists, on the side of the bad guys."
Awful, Mr Eastwood, seriously bad.