A first class war movie
Summary
Warfare is a grueling one time watch (for me, at least) but it has some incredible battle scenes really immersing the viewer into how hellish war can be. The cast are all at the top of their game and it’s technically faultless, so if you are a war movie fan then this is for you. If like me you prefer your action more escapist then maybe give this a miss.
Plot: A platoon of Navy SEALs embark on a dangerous mission in Ramadi, Iraq, with the chaos and brotherhood of war retold through their memories of the event.
Review: I like how A24 have been moving into the action genre with last year’s Civil War a surprise hit and now they’re back with the visceral Warfare. Directed by Alex Garland and Ray Mendoza (who were both at our screening tonight), Warfare isn’t a movie you’d call “entertaining” but it throws you into the thick of battle and doesn’t glorify any of it. The violence is gruesome and shocking making you feel every moment. We don’t really get to know any of the backstory of the characters; we are just having a dip into their lives during this hellish ordeal.
The battle scenes feel authentic with real explosions and tanks making us more immersed; the action isn’t “fun” by any stretch of the imagination as this is really an anti-war film. I seriously doubt anyone would watch this and think they’d like to join the military afterwards.
Warfare is only 90 minutes long with most of it taking place in real-time; the first 20 minutes builds up the tension as you know chaos will be unleashed any second and once it does, the film doesn’t let up until the end credits roll.
There is no music score to this movie which is rare; the action and performances speak for themselves once again just adding to the realism.
Would I watch it again? I doubt it as I prefer my action more pretend but this is definitely a movie worth seeing on the big screen. The sound was incredible where we felt like we were surrounded on all sides and we could still make out all the dialogue too.
Overall, Warfare is a harrowing 90 minutes with faultless performances and some incredible battle scenes; it’s not exactly something you’d watch often but it’s certainly worth seeing on the big screen at least once.