so I've watched Restepo twice...and I just watched The Hurt Locker

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Permalink Reply by Wayne Redick on January 25, 2011 at 7:33pm

The Hurt Locker was for entertainment purposes and "trying" to give some veneered insight into EOD operations and the mindset of the folks performing that dangerous duty.It worked in some moments of the film, but really is not as raw and human as some of the IED videos people post on youtube.

I have been looking for other documentaries or films similar to Restrepo and have not come across any.Plenty of books but none as personally involved or objective as War.

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Permalink Reply by A. Conner on January 25, 2011 at 9:54pm

Thanks for this list, Rudy! And thank you for your service and sacrifice.

God speed...

 

 

Rudy Wilkins said:

Movies like Restrepo are few, but here are titles worth checking out - "Brothers at War,"  "Gunner Palace" and "Baghdad ER."  All true documentaries on Iraq War.  If you want to go a little further back - I would say the "Anderson Platoon" and "Hill 875" were best about the Vietnam conflict.  Sorry to interrupt, but felt the need to contribute.

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Permalink Reply by A. Conner on January 28, 2011 at 4:25pm

Small World. I am indeed in Philly--and I work at UPenn as a staff writer. Also love Gregory Peck (I guess who doesn't), so thanks for that too.

All Best...

Rudy Wilkins said:

You're welcome - I see you are from Philly - spent some time there as a grad student at UPenn.  Another great movie - which is a factual drama regarding the Korean conflict is "Pork Chop Hill" with Gregory Peck in the lead.  OK done with my recs.  Have a good one and God bless you.

A. Conner said:

Thanks for this list, Rudy! And thank you for your service and sacrifice.

God speed...

 

 

Rudy Wilkins said:

Movies like Restrepo are few, but here are titles worth checking out - "Brothers at War,"  "Gunner Palace" and "Baghdad ER."  All true documentaries on Iraq War.  If you want to go a little further back - I would say the "Anderson Platoon" and "Hill 875" were best about the Vietnam conflict.  Sorry to interrupt, but felt the need to contribute.

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Permalink Reply by Kanani Fong on January 28, 2011 at 5:56pm

Well, The Hurt Locker was created as a fictional story. All fictional stories have a protagonist, a character arc, a plot and drama propels the storyline to carry the viewer. It's entertainment loosely based on the screenwriter's 3-week embed, but in no means is it an accurate depiction of how things are done.  And that's what bugged so many in the military. They thought it made them look bad, because the protagonist is very self centered and reckless.

Restrepo is a documentary based on what happened, rather than drawing up a storyline and having to follow anything formulaic.  Plus, don't forget that both Tim & Sebastian have covered wars for 20 years. They're knowlegable and brought a lot into the process.

But I think there's room for both. I mean, there has to be. But those in the military do have a good point: if you're going to write a story, figure out how to have both drama and accuracy together. It's far more challenging for the writer, but then that's the value of embedding more than once.

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Permalink Reply by A. Conner on January 28, 2011 at 8:18pm

I absolutely agree with everything you said. And there is room for both. But I think it's possible to have drama, accuracy, ...and emotional complexity in a Hollywood film. The germ of the thought in my original post, was that that's what was lacking in The Hurt Locker, what struck me most: emotional complexity (or the complexity of a real person in those situations). And I'm not so sure I would've realized that so powerfully if I hadn't watched Restrepo first. (That was my main point.)

I felt like it was a lost opportunity. Watching Restrepo made me realize that Kathryn Bigelow could have made a much better--more powerful--film. Obviously drama and documentary are different. But there's no reason why drama can't have real characters (and by real, I mean complex personalities, and complex responses to difficult situations).

 

I guess ultimately what I'm saying is that film-makers of all stripes could take a lesson from Restrepo. Even though it's a documentary, Sebastian and Tim still had to create and mold the narrative of the film and edit the reality in the most honest way. And I think that's what they did. The best filmmakers (or writers for that matter) do the same.

 

I should've not been so cryptic in my original post. But honestly, I didn't think anyone would read it! Thank you all for engaging and for your conversation.

 

(And Kanani, I follow your blog. I always look forward to your smart, reflective entries. :)

Kanani Fong said:

Well, The Hurt Locker was created as a fictional story. All fictional stories have a protagonist, a character arc, a plot and drama propels the storyline to carry the viewer. It's entertainment loosely based on the screenwriter's 3-week embed, but in no means is it an accurate depiction of how things are done.  And that's what bugged so many in the military. They thought it made them look bad, because the protagonist is very self centered and reckless.

Restrepo is a documentary based on what happened, rather than drawing up a storyline and having to follow anything formulaic.  Plus, don't forget that both Tim & Sebastian have covered wars for 20 years. They're knowlegable and brought a lot into the process.

But I think there's room for both. I mean, there has to be. But those in the military do have a good point: if you're going to write a story, figure out how to have both drama and accuracy together. It's far more challenging for the writer, but then that's the value of embedding more than once.

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