Hollywood's Late but Necessary Reply to America's Prolonged Engagement in Afghanistan

Rating: 8/10 (21 June 2017)

"War Machine" is a 2017 satirical war film that was released by Netflix in the spring of 2017. It is a fictionalized account loosely based on the story of General Stanley McChrystal. Although Hollywood has made many films depicting American forces in Iraq, very few films have been produced about the American war effort in Afghanistan. This fact is more astonishing when one considers that the War in Afghanistan is officially recognized as the longest military engagement in American history. Hollywood's silence in response to this prolonged and complex conflict is deafening. Fortunately, "War Machine" serves as Hollywood's fitting but late reply to America's protracted and seemingly never ending conflict in Afghanistan.
Although "War Machine" does have an intriguing plot, even before the movie begins the film brings a lot of star power to the screen. Through the duration of the film, Topher Grace from "That 70's Show", Brad Pitt, Ben Kingsley, and Russell Crowe all make an appearance on screen. Brad Pitt plays a four-star General named Glen McMahon who is appointed by an out of touch American president to take over and bring an end to the War in Afghanistan. At the opening of the film, the War in Afghanistan had been going on for over a decade. General McMahon takes charge of the situation and decides to aggressively pursue an ill-advised military campaign to retake the desolate Helmand province of the country. Although General McMahon is clearly committed to his men, his country, and his leadership role, he is poorly equipped to take on the daunting task of taming Afghanistan.
General McMahon doesn't understand Afghanistan. Elections and democracy are foreign concepts to the Afghani people. The greatest scenes of the film depict the interactions between the bewildered General McMahon and President Hamid Karzai. Former Oscar Nominee Ben Kingsley brings his star power to the film in the role of the Afghani politician. Their humorous back and forth sheds some light on the true nature of the political reality of the government of Afghanistan. As the film continues, it becomes painfully obvious that Hamid Karzai is simply a figure head for a puppet state propped up by American military power. The actors truly do justice to the quagmire of the situation. As can be expected, despite the best of intentions, General McMahon fails to bring the Afghanistan conflict to a close. Like his predecessor, he is replaced by a new general. The cycle goes on.
The grim nature of the content of the film is probably why the movie received such mixed reviews by audiences. A lot of the sharp wit that is an integral part of the whole tone of the film may go over people's heads. Others will simply find the material offensive. But the harsh criticism that this film received by critics and audiences is undeserved. This movie needed to be made. The War in Afghanistan has gone on for too long for it to be ignored.
At the time "War Machine" was released, America's War in Afghanistan had lasted for nearly two decades. This war has cost the United States and its allies billions of dollars and thousands of lives. But the most painful truth about this war is that there is very little to show for the tremendous sacrifice that has been given. The only option the world seems to have when confronted with such a high sunk cost seems to be to keep trying. Fire the current general and send in another general. Maybe the next one will get it right.