A film that very much stands the test of time to our corrupt American system, manipulating the public and deploying so many into their plans of selfishness. But more than the corruption and abuse of their power, I think the movie’s more about how we’re so blind to it and naive. The scattered bodies and bloody remains of battle are turned into honorable celebrations of brave men. Families losing their sons and relatives lives to the corruption are twisted into strong humans who tread through loss knowing it’s for some kind of greater cost. But most of all, the youth fell for the ploy.
The exposition is one of the most fascinating parts of the film. It shows despite the life they have ahead of them to choose so many other avenues, their still the most gullible to sign onto the treacherous roads of war out of all people being sold the lie of it being an American Dream. The youth is the most eager to find their identity and purpose in the world, where they stand as more than just a kid running around in the sands of the circus. More than dumb ignorance to fall into war, it’s naivety, believing the sacrifice of war and fighting for a country is an ideal for finding purpose when In reality, only the higher level of power in government control truly reap any of the benefits of war’s remains.
The regret lingering of the second and third acts is heartbreaking, but never fully throws its anger full throttle at anyone enough for the heartbreak of life altering war. So much of the haunting nature and trauma of war is felt through his confusion trying to find a life outside of war to no avail, but the motive behind systematic anger is not expressed. Outside of the obvious war issues expressed of millions of men dying and no veteran reaping benefits, most problems with the flawed government system are only indirectly explained or not fully addressed by the script until the triumphant finish in the final 10 minutes. There’s a part of me that wished Stone explored other aspects like how communism was a lure to pull men into war, which would’ve made its anti-war take a little more nuanced.
Aside from that though, the real complexity I feel comes from Cruise’s performance. He’s brilliant in here and shows so much range of emotion throughout the progression of the movie. There’s such a strong sense of humanity in his character, becoming more volatile and distraught of a person with each realization of how regretful he should be from going into war as a gullible young man. Abrasive anger masked by heartbreak and confusion of how to navigate a life completely disabled by the corruption of the battlefield.
A film that very much stands the test of time to our corrupt American system, manipulating the public and deploying so many into their plans of selfishness. But more than the corruption and abuse of their power, I think the movie’s more about how we’re so blind to it and naive. The scattered bodies and bloody remains of battle are turned into honorable celebrations of brave men. Families losing their sons and relatives lives to the corruption are twisted into strong humans who tread through loss knowing it’s for some kind of greater cost. But most of all, the youth fell for the ploy.
The exposition is one of the most fascinating parts of the film. It shows despite the life they have ahead of them to choose so many other avenues, their still the most gullible to sign onto the treacherous roads of war out of all people being sold the lie of it being an American Dream. The youth is the most eager to find their identity and purpose in the world, where they stand as more than just a kid running around in the sands of the circus. More than dumb ignorance to fall into war, it’s naivety, believing the sacrifice of war and fighting for a country is an ideal for finding purpose when In reality, only the higher level of power in government control truly reap any of the benefits of war’s remains.
The regret lingering of the second and third acts is heartbreaking, but never fully throws its anger full throttle at anyone enough for the heartbreak of life altering war. So much of the haunting nature and trauma of war is felt through his confusion trying to find a life outside of war to no avail, but the motive behind systematic anger is not expressed. Outside of the obvious war issues expressed of millions of men dying and no veteran reaping benefits, most problems with the flawed government system are only indirectly explained or not fully addressed by the script until the triumphant finish in the final 10 minutes. There’s a part of me that wished Stone explored other aspects like how communism was a lure to pull men into war, which would’ve made its anti-war take a little more nuanced.
Aside from that though, the real complexity I feel comes from Cruise’s performance. He’s brilliant in here and shows so much range of emotion throughout the progression of the movie. There’s such a strong sense of humanity in his character, becoming more volatile and distraught of a person with each realization of how regretful he should be from going into war as a gullible young man. Abrasive anger masked by heartbreak and confusion of how to navigate a life completely disabled by the corruption of the battlefield.
