over-rated pseudo-jingoism

Rating: 5/10 (8 March 2010)

While this film contains nothing outstandingly offensive and there is certainly nothing to criticize about the acting and film-making technique, I am troubled by the extreme praise being heaped on this film.
It is a very simplistic film with a narrowly focused story line that overall is carried by the highly charismatic lead (Renner) and the frequent explosions. The effects are low budget and generally adequate but some (e.g., sniper scene) are quite unrealistic. All major issues related to the US invasion of Iraq are ignored. The self-pitying title seems very ironic given the effects of the invasion on the Iraqi population, compared to which the suffering of US personnel has been minuscule.
Many outside the USA will speculate that the film's appeal in the USA has mainly to do with a widespread 'support our troops' mentality and the less widespread but more sinister blind patriotism that infects the nation.
The definitive American film about the 2003 US invasion of Iraq has not been made - if it does appear it will, in part, take proper responsibility for this tragedy.