(this movie was actually seen in its first run in the theater)
I went in to see this movie kicking and screaming and came out happy. It's the most surprising movie I've seen in so long. Everything about it was so different in every way from what I'd imagined. I'm not at all a fan of war movies, and this is no war movie. It's about a war, but it's just not like a John Wayne flick at all. It is critical of the Gulf conflict and of war in general, but in a way that helps you to understand what exactly is so bad about it. It also examines the role of the media in the Gulf.
It stars George Clooney (who they tried to make unattractive but it didn't quite work), Mark Wahlberg from "Boogie Nights" and Ice Cube as three Gulf War vets at the close of the conflict. They find out that Saddam Hussein has a stash of gold stolen from Iraqi citizens and intend to steal it back. Archie Gates is a real tough guy, but he becomes affected by what he sees in Iraq and finds himself trying to save the lives of a group of dissidents.
Clooney does a remarkable acting job, as does Wahlberg. Spike Jonze has a funny turn as a redneck. The cinematography and writing are the standouts, though. If I had to come up with a film to compare it to, I would mention "Jackie Brown", but that's not even exactly right. It has a look and feel all its own. There are scenes that I've never forgotten and I saw this film last summer. During the film, there's a scene where Wahlberg pulls a gun on an Hussein flunky and is debating whether or not to shoot him. Someone in the theater was chanting "shoot him!". That is almost the opposite of the point of this film. If you find yourself doing this in movies, don't bother with this one.
The only weakness here is a very Hollywood ending with a nice, neat resolution. If just a little less had been neatly tied up, it would definitely be a perfect movie. A "Rocky" ending on a story this complex feels tacked on.
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