If you haven't been to war, you'll probably like it

Rating: 7/10 (25 April 2010)

After reading numerous reviews of the movie by veterans, I feel obliged to share my opinion, the opinion of someone who knows very little about war like 95% of moviegoers. First let me say, yes, the film requires considerable suspension of disbelief and I don't blame any war veteran from not being able to do this--I don't know that I would be able to either. The director could have done more research and she should have. But this film is not a documentary. And no, it is not objective. I respect the film for its phenomenal acting, cinematography, and yes, direction. Despite its long and often disjointed scenes, I felt considerable suspense for most of the film. I was successfully drawn in. I could see how it would be easy to find the film intolerable if I were a veteran. I could also see how it would be easy to find hundreds or thousands of films about FBI agents intolerable because surely the films would miss so many details describing what this honorable profession is like. The film was made for people like me, people who, despite watching numerous four-star war movies, are truly oblivious to the nature of war. I've never been shot at. I've never held a gun. But I believe that doesn't prevent me from recognizing talent and beauty, and so I do highly recommend the film to anyone who won't hold its awards against it.