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Release Date: December 15th, 2006 (Sony Lincoln Square 68th & B'Way) by MGM. The Cast: Samuel L. Jackson, Jessica Biel, Curtis Jackson, Chad Michael Murray, Brian Presley, Christina Ricci. Directed by Irwin Winkler. BASIC PREMISE: After returning from the war in Iraq, a group of U.S. soldiers struggle to bring their lives back to normal. ENTERTAINMENT VALUE: The opening scenes show a bunch U.S. soldiers fighting in Iraq and getting injured during battle. One of the soldiers died among many others while others survive, namely Will (Jackson), Tommy (Presley), Vanessa (Biel) and Jamal (Jackson, a.k.a. 50 Cent). When they come back to Spokane, Washington, they all experience post-traumatic syndrome in different ways. For example, Vanessa, lost her arm during the battle and gets a new one, breaks up with her boyfriend, and ignores the advances of a new potential boyfriend who seems to care about her. It’s too bad that the script by Mark Friedman doesn’t allow you to care about her as well. In another contrived subplot, Will deals with his rebellious teenage son by ripping his lip ring right of him in front of his wife, who clearly feels fed-up with him—she pretty much speaks for the audience as well who feels not only fed-up with Will but with this awfully contrived and by-the-numbers film. Not a single scene feels true-to-life and all of the characters are one-dimensional. Moreover, director Irwin Winkler makes the mistake of casting recognizable actors such as Samuel L. Jackson, Jessica Biel, Christina Ricci and Curtis Jackson—if you even want to call him an actor to begin with. Neither of them truly sinks themselves into their roles enough to make them remotely convincing and genuine. Ultimately, Home of the Brave misses many opportunities to be riveting and powerful and, instead, feels underwhelming and forgettable. SPIRITUAL VALUE: Unfortunately, none. INSULT TO YOUR INTELLIGENCE: Contrived, miscast and stilted. NUMBER OF TIMES I CHECKED MY WATCH: 16 IN A NUTSHELL: Stilted, contrived, miscast and forgettable. RECOMMENDED WAY TO WATCH: Never. Main Page Alphabetical Menu Chronological Menu The "H" Menu ______________________________________________________ |
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