Subtley clever and well written film

Rating: 9/10 (6 September 2018)

This film is about war, but it isn't heavy; it's about politics, but it isn't difficult to follow; it's about an anguished personality, but the film is light.
The same film could have been made as a guy wrenching and bloody film with lots of emotional build up - but it wasn't, and I'm glad for that. It tackles a serious subject: the war in Afghanistan and all its associated difficulties. But it does it in an original accessible way that isn't looking for cheap emotional reactions. Not really 'humorous' bit certainly light, though for me it just made it that much better because in our minds we know that these soldiers and the civilians went through a difficult and confusing time. Having been friends with a special forces Pathfinder serving there, it drew on the real problems they faced, but it informa and doesn't milk the audience for cheap emotional responses. So Brad Pitt comes over as a charicature, but it fits the film. Definitely a great attempt at portraying some really important concepts relating to war, in a way that is quite light and original.