OK first of all criticism of the film is not criticism of the person awarded the medal of honour. Please don't misapprehend me on that.
At the basis of this film is a really poor script with genuinely weak dialogue. Awful, awful writing.
The money in the film has been spent in a lopsided way on cast - but the best actors in the world can't resurrect a dreadful script. They need something to work with.
The characters are two dimensional clichés - without exception. The engagement is wooden, clunky, and sometimes cringeworthy. There are constant attempts to pull at heart strings to get away with it - and there is no relief from the sentimentalism anywhere. A good film should ebb and flow, build and relieve pressure and pathos. The pace of this film is slow throughout, the sentimental content is always on full blast, to the last detail. Of course the main character's wife is pregnant. Of course Samuel L Jackson's character is introduced fishing at the creek with his grandchildren. "Does it still hurt grandpa?" "Only on the inside" It is an absolutely relentless assault to the point where it goes way over the top. It's unforgiveable.
The musical score is absolutely B grade movement at all times. The effects are generally TV movie quality.
I am sure that the gentleman who was eventually awarded the medal of honour was quite exceptional - but this film really isn't and its not worthy of his contribution. If anything it's exploitative.
The people grading it nine out of ten, ten out of ten, are happy to be fed with a sugar heavy product. This is like syrup. Someone compared this to Hacksaw Ridge and Private Ryan - and this is nowhere, absolutely nowhere near that mark.
Other critics have noted poor detail in uniform, historical accuracy, and overall military consistency. I'm not surprised. This doesn't come across as a film where anyone did their homework or cared about the delivery of meaningful dramatisation. It's pumped full of trite devices you seen before - you don't for one minute think that you've been given any insight into actual real people. This comprehensively undermines a very poor movie and it left me personally feeling that Hollywood used the opportunity to sell movie tickets and try and win some awards. Its a hideous and cynical experience. There's no integrity here. I cannot recommend it.
At the basis of this film is a really poor script with genuinely weak dialogue. Awful, awful writing.
The money in the film has been spent in a lopsided way on cast - but the best actors in the world can't resurrect a dreadful script. They need something to work with.
The characters are two dimensional clichés - without exception. The engagement is wooden, clunky, and sometimes cringeworthy. There are constant attempts to pull at heart strings to get away with it - and there is no relief from the sentimentalism anywhere. A good film should ebb and flow, build and relieve pressure and pathos. The pace of this film is slow throughout, the sentimental content is always on full blast, to the last detail. Of course the main character's wife is pregnant. Of course Samuel L Jackson's character is introduced fishing at the creek with his grandchildren. "Does it still hurt grandpa?" "Only on the inside" It is an absolutely relentless assault to the point where it goes way over the top. It's unforgiveable.
The musical score is absolutely B grade movement at all times. The effects are generally TV movie quality.
I am sure that the gentleman who was eventually awarded the medal of honour was quite exceptional - but this film really isn't and its not worthy of his contribution. If anything it's exploitative.
The people grading it nine out of ten, ten out of ten, are happy to be fed with a sugar heavy product. This is like syrup. Someone compared this to Hacksaw Ridge and Private Ryan - and this is nowhere, absolutely nowhere near that mark.
Other critics have noted poor detail in uniform, historical accuracy, and overall military consistency. I'm not surprised. This doesn't come across as a film where anyone did their homework or cared about the delivery of meaningful dramatisation. It's pumped full of trite devices you seen before - you don't for one minute think that you've been given any insight into actual real people. This comprehensively undermines a very poor movie and it left me personally feeling that Hollywood used the opportunity to sell movie tickets and try and win some awards. Its a hideous and cynical experience. There's no integrity here. I cannot recommend it.