Description
Robert Redford, Tom Cruise and Meryl Streep deliver “three knockout performances” (Vue Weekly) in this powerful story about how the decision makers at the top affect American soldiers on the ground half a world away. An idealistic professor (Redford), a charismatic U.S. Senator (Cruise) and a probing TV journalist (Streep) have opposing viewpoints about the actions of our nation and the attitudes of its citizens. But the human consequences of war become chillingly clear f… More >>
#1 by Happy Camper on March 18, 2010 - 2:29 am
I mean that sincerely. It’s obvious to me the two male soldiers in this movie are in love with each other! Whether they were lovers is another matter, left to one’s imagination. Why do I come to this conclusion? It’s based on a pattern of events. First body language. These two men are extremely comfortable being in close proximity to each other. In the college debate scene both young men were in perfect sync when speaking. They make a major life change together when they decide to join the army. On the helicopter they are joyously playing agility games with their hands. When one falls out of the helicopter at a great height, the other consciously decides to jump out after him. Most importantly, their final dramatic scene is downright romantic! How many of us would give up our lives in such a way unless we were in love? To put it mildly, this is a brave and gutsy film!
This provocative story is also a call to action! I’m personally afraid of our current Executive Branch of the Federal government. Something that dampens my enthusiasm for political action. I believe we Americans are being ruled by a bunch of lunatics with agendas we will never totally understand. While the dialog between the smart aleck college student and the wizened professor is more about this student’s contempt and cynicism, reading between the lines, it’s also about fear. Fear of failure, fear of the unknown, fear of getting hurt, even fear of wasting one’s time. But isn’t it about time we stop being afraid, cynical or contemptuous and start doing something constructive to end the the Iraqi war? And, then make sure this kind of war never happens again during our lifetimes? I really hope so!
Rating: 5 / 5
#2 by Susan Abdullahi on March 18, 2010 - 4:50 am
The product was delivered to me ON-TIME!! The DVD was an EXCELLENT condition, and I would recommand using [this person] for your DVD needs.
Rating: 5 / 5
#3 by M. Foster on March 18, 2010 - 6:36 am
This movie is a total dog. There are three disjointed stories (one for each of the three leads) that bear almost no relationship to each other. At the end, you’ll wonder “Where’s the rest of the movie? Did I fall asleep someplace?”
Rating: 1 / 5
#4 by Chiu Kit Ling Monit on March 18, 2010 - 9:34 am
It is totally a boring movie for years. It speaks for the Republican Govt in the USA against Arabic world. I slept over while watching !
Rating: 1 / 5
#5 by Steve Means on March 18, 2010 - 11:00 am
Based on the reviews thus far, the following is clear:
If you are still a Republican after all that has happened, then this movie won’t change your mind… it’ll just make you mad. Check out numbersusa, and do something constructive with your time (honestly, that’s a more appropriate place to vent your frustration). Save us your brash negative review.
If you are looking for SAS entertainment, and want to avoid a mental challenge, then that’s sad, but this movie is not your cup-of-tea.
If you are anti-intellectual (or the new buzz-phrase: anti-”elitist”) and/or cynical to the point where you abhor any type of strong opinion on controversial matters, then your mind will filter out the meaning, and you will only hear garbled chatter. That’s really a shame, because this movie is largely about–and directed at–YOU. The movie’s modality is not in tune with your way of thinking, so chances are very high that you will not like it.
If you are under about 15 years old (less for girls), then this movie is probably too weighty for you. If you still think it’s cool to be smart, and you pride your intellect, then you might give it a try.
All other personality types should see this movie, and try hard to stick with it, because it’s important that you “get it.” The Socratic Method is at work here, so it may take a while to digest. The movie will challenge your intellect, and there is no doubt that it is politically polarizing. The movie is largely a dialog from multiple points of view, so you won’t agree with everything… the important thing is that you understand the movie in its totality.
It’s a shame that many people seek to exclude themselves–and others–from civil discourse about the issues presented by writing such brash reviews. I’m sure thousands of potential viewers are being scared away by this insidious tactic. Robert Redford has been a champion of the little guy ever since The Milagro Beanfield War. He is at his most poignant here in L4L. Unless you are a complete ditto-head, this movie deserves your support ["ambivalence only helps the oppressor"]. It is part of a monumentally important civil discourse that is sorely needed at this time and place in history.
Rating: 5 / 5