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Jun 11, 2017Chonchko rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
One of the great, misunderstood anti-war films. Labeled everything from "traitorous" to even "anti-American", De Palma's bleak vision details the rape and murder of an Iraqi family at the hands of misguided, vengeance-fueled American troops. It's certainly not for everyone, but to accuse De Palma of being a traitor is missing the point that this is based on a very real event, so it's not some sick fantasy he made up just to stir the pot. It's too messy and uneven to call it a masterpiece, but De Palma's disgust drips off every frame, to the degree that the viewer feels the hatred and urgency with which it was made. If you're an open-minded viewer, ignore all the negative press and give it a shot. I can see where people might dislike it for the artistic decisions (some dialogue is stilted, many disliked the acting styles, and the use of multiple media viewpoints sometimes feels forced), but dismissing it as "anti-American", no matter your thoughts on war, is completely inexcusable.