War tends to be depicted only a few ways in fiction.
It is either a brave adventure or a soul-crushing Hell.
A great honor of noble sacrifice or a cynical waste by so many calculating politicians.
Yet Richard Linklater seems to be asking with his latest film: Why cant it be both?
Theres also a humor to it too.
Not that this stops it from being an occasionally mirthful and always revelatory service.
But those old wounds and that familiar brotherhood?
Semper fi, theyll always be.
Not that either is prepared to meet the born again Rev.
Richard Mueller, who as a happily married man can barely bring himself to withstand Sals cursing.
At least while Muellers wife is in the room.
When the three are alone though?
With the presidents best wishes and appreciation for the boys service, of course.
Indeed, there is a tangible anger about the cyclical awfulness of these generation-defining wars.
The latter plays Pvt.
But you see them in all their ages, then and now, as they continue the good fight.
Last Flag Flyingpremiered at the New York Film Festival.
It opens on Nov. 3.
Rating:
4.5 out of 5
