Some quick notes:
1) I thought it was a fantastic idea having bigger names have smaller roles, and have the leads be relatively unknown.
2) I love that I learned things. So many people are wondering why this Iraq movie worked when so many aren't. I think it's because in the others we're being talked to rather than exposed to educated. Plus, I don't think you can take away from the fact that almost the entire movie was set in Iraq. In movies like Stop-Loss, Rendition, Lions for Lambs, and The Lucky Ones we're learning about the after-effects of the war, the returning vets, and the politics, but we're not seeing the actual experience, and I have to think it's because studios--even independent ones--don't want to make that movie. Well, here's someone who did and it's a much better movie for it.
3) A lot has been said about the movie being directed by a woman. Some have even said "It took a woman to make a good Iraq movie." I don't think it necessarily took a woman. I think it took a person who was interested in making a good movie that deals with a political issue rather than a movie that deals with a political issue and might have one or two things people actually want in a movie.
4) I think the great thing about this movie is that even though I didn't find it to be as terrific as a lot of other people did, I think it's great that it's going to help other filmmakers make movies about this that actually work. I feel like up until now everyone was just groping around in the dark, and now here's someone, Kathryn Bigelow, saying--This is what you have to do.
5) Final note: The screenwriter of this movie, Mark Boal, also wrote "In the Valley of Elah" which I believe is the second best movie about the Iraq war I've seen. That means this guy needs to be working much, much more, because he has this shit down.
1) I thought it was a fantastic idea having bigger names have smaller roles, and have the leads be relatively unknown.
2) I love that I learned things. So many people are wondering why this Iraq movie worked when so many aren't. I think it's because in the others we're being talked to rather than exposed to educated. Plus, I don't think you can take away from the fact that almost the entire movie was set in Iraq. In movies like Stop-Loss, Rendition, Lions for Lambs, and The Lucky Ones we're learning about the after-effects of the war, the returning vets, and the politics, but we're not seeing the actual experience, and I have to think it's because studios--even independent ones--don't want to make that movie. Well, here's someone who did and it's a much better movie for it.
3) A lot has been said about the movie being directed by a woman. Some have even said "It took a woman to make a good Iraq movie." I don't think it necessarily took a woman. I think it took a person who was interested in making a good movie that deals with a political issue rather than a movie that deals with a political issue and might have one or two things people actually want in a movie.
4) I think the great thing about this movie is that even though I didn't find it to be as terrific as a lot of other people did, I think it's great that it's going to help other filmmakers make movies about this that actually work. I feel like up until now everyone was just groping around in the dark, and now here's someone, Kathryn Bigelow, saying--This is what you have to do.
5) Final note: The screenwriter of this movie, Mark Boal, also wrote "In the Valley of Elah" which I believe is the second best movie about the Iraq war I've seen. That means this guy needs to be working much, much more, because he has this shit down.
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