Grade: B
Rating: R, 108
minutes
In a Nutshell: I was
curious about this film, because I have proudly shouted the titled words to
soldiers passing by in the airport or wherever I see them in uniform.
As a mother of a son in the Army, this movie was sobering, frustrating, and even infuriating.
As a mother of a son in the Army, this movie was sobering, frustrating, and even infuriating.
While we have seen this subject matter done before in other
movies, it’s still worth reminding the American public that our vets deserve
much better than they’re currently getting.
They need support when they return from war and they should not be afraid
to ask for help when they desperately need it.
I taught at a local college for 5 years where I had many vets in my
classes. Some did great, but many of
them really struggled and, honestly, some were messed up. They all deserve thanks from a grateful nation, but even better, they need practical help.
Although the movie didn’t mention it, you should check out
the 22 Day Pushup Challenge that raises awareness for veterans suffering with
PTSD. A friend of mine recently
participated. On Day 1, he couldn’t even
do a single push-up. He finished strong on Day 22. The movie DID mention
that 20 vets commit suicide every day. The
actual number is now 22. It’s a
sobering, real problem that deserves our public outrage and action.
I would have liked to see a call to action at the end of the
movie, like a web site or phone number where we could go to have our voice
heard. Allow me to give you that call to
action. Contribute to organizations that offer support to vets. Write to your legislators today.
Uplifting theme:
- “You
live. That’s how you honor him.” –
Amanda Doster (Amy Schumer)
- "Every day I wake up, I'm grateful." - Michael Adam Emory (Scott Haze)
Things I liked:
- It
appears to be very realistic.
- I was
surprised to see comedienne Amy Schumer in it, especially playing a very serious wife of a fallen soldier. I was super impressed to learn that she donated all of the money she earned for her role in the movie to several army war vet foundations.
- The
cast did a very good job and features Miles Teller, Haley Bennett, Beulah
Koale, Scott Haze, Joe Cole.
- I liked the way the movie doesn't tell you exactly what happened to this unit in Iraq all at once, but fills in the puzzle pieces as the film unfolds.
- Shania Twain sings the feature song Soldier. I've always been such a fan of her music and think she's gorgeous.
Things I didn’t like:
- Sooooo
much profanity.
- It
kind of makes vets look like a bunch of rednecks.
- While the Veterans Administration does a lot of good, this film is a scathing condemnation of the ridiculous red tape that exists in the government organization that should be there for our vets. Incompetent bureaucracy gets in the way of providing timely support.
- I felt more angry than tearful.
Interesting lines:
- “You
don’t see the bomb unless they want you to. You sense it.” – Adam Schumann (Miles
Teller)
- “We’re
having a baby.” – Solo (Beulah Koale)
“That’s great! You’ll have a new unit.” – Linda Sanders (Allison King)
Tips for
parents:
- Very bloody and gory.
People die.
- TONS of profanity, including TONS of F-bombs.
- Sex
scene (clothes on) and talk of sexual acts.
- Racial
slurs, including the “N” word.
- Full
nudity of the back side of a lady.
- Bloody,
vicious dog fight.
- Drug
use and other illegal activities
- Violent
war scenes
- It’s
pretty depressing.
MOVIE REVIEW MOM
@trinaboice
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