Posted on January 7, 2016 at 8:00 am
Helen Mirren and Aaron Paul star in “Eye in the Sky,” a military thriller about using drones for recon and weapons. Do you drop a bomb on a terrorist if there is a child playing nearby?
Posted on November 11, 2015 at 8:00 am
Director Aron Gaudet is the son of a “greeter,” one of the volunteers in Maine who make sure that every soldier coming through the airport gets a warm showing of appreciation. He told me, “We started seeing these parallels, too, all of these people going off to war are concerned about mortality and so are the older people who are greeting them.” This is a lovely film, and very appropriate for Veteran’s Day.
Posted on June 25, 2015 at 5:51 pm
“Max” is a good, old-fashioned story of a boy and a dog who mend each other’s broken hearts. It is heartwarming without getting treacly, and frank without getting too disturbing. And it has adventure, romance, loss, and something to say about what we should ask of ourselves and each other. It is one of the best live action family films of the year.
Justin Wincott (a terrific Josh Wiggins) is an unhappy teenager who lives in Texas with his parents (Thomas Haden Church as Ray and Lauren Graham as Pamela). His older brother Kyle (Robbie Amell of “The DUFF”) is a Marine in Afghanistan, working with a dog named Max, who protects the troops and sniffs out danger, locating hidden bombs and caches of weapons. Justin won’t even stop playing a video game when Kyle is Skyping with his parents. Kyle gently teases him for not coming to the computer screen to say hello. “I’m just over here dealing with a minor insurgency. He’s trying to save the whole universe.”
But Kyle is killed, and Max is severely traumatized. The Wincotts are devastated, though proud of Kyle’s service for his country. Ray, himself a wounded veteran, is stoic and firm in his beliefs about patriotism and manhood. Justin is angry, bitter, and hurt. He is not interested in helping a damaged dog. He does not know yet that the best way for him to heal his spirit is to find a way to help someone else. He and Max share a great loss and need to learn how to process what they have experienced.
Kyle’s best friend, who served with him, was released early and goes to work for Ray. And Justin has a best friend, Chuy (Dejon LaQuake), who has a spirited, brave cousin who loves dogs named Carmen (Mia Xitlali). With Carmen’s help, Justin helps Max feel at home. But as a Marine tells him, “These dogs were born to work. Take away that sense of purpose and they’re lost.”
Justin needed a sense of purpose, too. He finds it when it turns out their town has some bad guys with guns and rottweilers. Justin and his friends find out that Max’s sense of purpose means he will do anything to keep them safe. Yakin keeps a lot of moving parts moving smoothly. Justin’s relationship with his dad, with Max, with Carmen, and with the bad guys all come together as a part of his growing understanding of his own sense of purpose.
Parents should know that this film includes wartime violence, a sad death, dog fights, adults and children in peril, weapons dealers, brief strong language, and a teen kiss.
Family discussion: Why was it hard for Justin and his father to get along? Why did Justin’s father wait to tell him the story of his wound?
If you like this, try: the “Lassie” movies and “Remember the Titans”
Posted on May 24, 2015 at 8:00 am
I’ve already written about great documentaries and feature films about the military to watch on Memorial Day. These recent documentaries about our 21st century conflicts give the military a chance to tell their own story. They are not pro-war or anti-war. They are pro-soldier.
The War Tapes
Restrepo
Gunner Palace
Bomb Hunters: Afghanistan
Always Faithful
Baghdad ER
Posted on May 18, 2015 at 8:00 am
B+| Lowest Recommended Age: | Mature High Schooler |
| MPAA Rating: | R for strong and disturbing war violence, and language throughout including some sexual references |
| Profanity: | Very strong language |
| Alcohol/ Drugs: | Drinking and drunkenness |
| Violence/ Scariness: | Wartime violence including battles and snipers, characters injured and killed, disturbing images |
| Diversity Issues: | A theme of the movie |
| Date Released to Theaters: | January 16, 2015 |
| Date Released to DVD: | May 18, 2015 |
| Amazon.com ASIN: | B00RGZ915C |
The highest-grossing movie of 2014 is also one of the most controversial. Director Clint Eastwood and producer-star Bradley Cooper have made a more subtle and nuanced film than either the people who loved it or the people who hated it give him credit for. Extremists on both sides found validation for their views, whether for or against the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan or for or against the actions of the military there. That may be the most significant proof of the evenhandedness of Eastwood, a man who made two separate films about Iwo Jima to tell the stories of both the Japanese and American military.
We see Chris Kyle as a young boy, hunting with his father (Ben Reed). We learn two key facts. First, even at that age, Kyle is a very good shot. Second, we hear his father explain that there are sheep, wolves, and sheepdogs, and he expects his boys to grow up to be protectors of sheep, not wolves or their victims.
Nevertheless, Chris grows up (now played by a bulked-up Cooper) without much direction until he decides to enlist. In the movie, it is a response to news reports about Americans being killed by terrorists, following time spent as a ranch hand and finding his girlfriend in bed with another man. In fact, Kyle had always planned to join the military and he does not mention the girlfriend in his book.
This is the kind of diversion from the truth that has caused some viewers to argue that the portrayal is slanted. Later on, as he becomes the deadliest sniper in US military history, the film again unnecessarily ramps up the drama as though Eastwood does not trust the audience to appreciate the intensity, moral quandaries, and psychological impact of war or the courage and skill required of the military. They really did not have to inflate the story of the bounty being put on his head or make it seem as though he was the only one.
The movie and Kyle’s book both begin with a real-life story of Kyle’s first day, where he shoots a woman with a grenade (in the movie, he shoots the child she hands it to as well). This parallels a later moment where he has to decide whether to shoot. Kyle says in both book and movie that he has no regrets. Whether the viewer concludes that is the reason or the result of combat is left to us.
Parents should know that this movie concerns the real-life experiences of a military sniper in combat, with many characters injured and killed and disturbing images. Characters use strong language and there are sexual references and situations and drinking and drunkenness.
Family discussion: Who are the sheep/wolves/sheepdogs in your life?
If you like this, try: “The Hurt Locker” and “The War Tapes”
