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war

“Outside the Wire” is a droning, ideologically confused sci-fi thriller

Outside the Wire
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The Netflix Action Movie Industrial Complex continues abated with a deeply mediocre military thriller that can’t get a handle on its lukewarm critique of drones.

Clint Worthington Posted on January 13, 2021January 12, 2021

“Zero Dark Thirty” refuses to take a stand

Zero Dark Thirty
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Nearly eight years later, Zero Dark Thirty continues to court controversy by stubbornly refusing to argue for or against the lengths America took to find Osama bin Laden.

Tim Stevens Posted on November 28, 2020November 28, 2020

“K-19: The Widowmaker” runs deep, but far from silent

K-19 the Widowmaker
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Kathryn Bigelow takes her innate sense of the mechanisms of masculinity into a sorely-overlooked Russian submarine drama.

Clint Worthington Posted on November 24, 2020November 24, 2020

“The Hurt Locker” told a starkly modern war story

The Hurt Locker
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Kathryn Bigelow’s Oscar winning drama tossed aside the bombastic, jingoistic cliches of war pictures in favor of something more chilling.

Michael Guarnieri Posted on November 21, 2020November 21, 2020

“No Man’s Land” is a thoughtful, gripping modern war drama

No Man's Land
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The Hulu original series about the Syrian Civil War offers strong performances and unexpected dark humor.

Oluwatayo Adewole Posted on November 19, 2020November 19, 2020

“Tigerland” looks at the pre-war pain of young (and talented) men

Tigerland
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Joel Schumacher’s sensitive wartime drama gives the world Colin Farrell and explores the painful tribulations of young men waiting for war.

Michael Frank Posted on July 22, 2020July 22, 2020

“The Painted Bird” loses itself in its own detached misery

The Painted Bird
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Václav Marhoul’s three-hour WW2 fable is a brutal film tied up a bit too rigidly in its meticulous depictions of violence.

Michael Snydel Posted on July 16, 2020July 16, 2020

Go “Greyhound” and leave the sailing to Hanks

Greyhound
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Tom Hanks admirably buoys a lean, but sloppy WWII naval thriller too sincere to sell its simplicity.

Clint Worthington Posted on July 7, 2020July 7, 2020

War is hell, and unfortunately, so is “The Outpost”

The Outpost
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Rod Lurie’s military thriller about the Battle of Kamdesh can’t quite nail its critique about the horrors of war.

Michael Snydel Posted on July 3, 2020July 3, 2020

“The Patriot” at 20: Yankee Doodle Dreary

The Patriot
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20 years later, Roland Emmerich’s Revolutionary War drama skewers U.S. history and Mel Gibson’s persona without trying to—or realizing it.

Tim Stevens Posted on June 30, 2020July 2, 2020

Spike Lee heads to Vietnam in the bracing, powerful “Da 5 Bloods”

Da 5 Bloods
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Spike Lee explores the painful history of Blackness in American warfare with this lengthy, but gripping, Vietnam epic.

Oluwatayo Adewole Posted on June 12, 2020June 18, 2020

“Sergio” Wants to Tell You About Its Hero, But What About Him?

Sergio
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Coming off his documentary work, Greg Barker presents his first scripted feature in a mishmash of undercooked storylines and characters.

Matt Cipolla Posted on April 16, 2020July 2, 2020

Sundance 2020: “Luxor” Gets Lost In Translation

Luxor
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A solid first half and great work from Andrea Riseborough aren’t quite enough to make up for Zeina Durra’s Egyptian indie.

Matt Cipolla Posted on January 24, 2020January 24, 2020

“1917” Takes a Long, Thin Look at War

1917
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Sam Mendes’ WWI epic is an astounding technical achievement, but loses its soul on the way to razzle-dazzle.

Clint Worthington Posted on January 7, 2020January 7, 2020

A Hidden Life Review: Forging Our Own Idea of God

A Hidden Life
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Terrence Malick’s three-hour opus examines the links between the theological, the empirical, and the absurdist in his best film in almost a decade.

Matt Cipolla Posted on December 16, 2019July 2, 2020

Box Office Report: “Doctor Sleep” Loses the War to “Midway”

Doctor Sleep Box Office
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The Stephen King sequel checks out with a disappointing opener, but Roland Emmerich’s WWII epic flies high.

Douglas Laman Posted on November 12, 2019November 12, 2019

Ed Skrein and Luke Kleintank on Honoring WWII Heroes in “Midway”

Midway Ed Skrein Luke Kleintank
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The stars of Roland Emmerich’s epic war film sit down to talk about research, gum, and the Greatest Generation.

Clint Worthington Posted on November 8, 2019November 8, 2019

Midway Review: WWII Drama Lumbers With Clumsy Solemnity

Midway
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Roland Emmerich’s dull, misguided World War II epic tries to mask its Pacific-sized flaws in the cloak of patriotism.

Clint Worthington Posted on November 7, 2019November 7, 2019

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