The horror of war

Rating: 8/10 (6 October 2019)

An unrelentingly grim portrayal of the horror and brutality of war as seen through the eyes of a Sherman tank crew. War and the wholesale slaughter of human life is horrible, and this film successfully portrays that, mostly without glorification, and with unflinching attention to detail of the physical horror. The filth, gore, violence and death of war is shown in graphic details. A great deal of effort went into showing the authentic armour, weaponry and paraphernalia of the period, which combined with the detailed locations, filthy ruined environments and human desolation, paint a realistic picture. Many of the battle scenes feel realistic, with a few exceptions, notably the finale battle which is a borderline ridiculous turkey shoot and lets the film down very badly. The characters and acting are first class, really exceptional, but be warned these are not heroic figures you can feel good about. Be ready for harrowing camaraderie, broken bodies and broken minds. Deserving of praise for its integrity to its purpose, which I think is solely a portrayal of the horror of war.