I didn't realize this movie was almost ten years old. Yikes! I had never heard of it, so I gave it a try, mostly because of the all star cast. Well, the action sequences were very poorly directed a la the sudden slow motion death sequences (which rem... (read more) I didn't realize this movie was almost ten years old. Yikes! I had never heard of it, so I gave it a try, mostly because of the all star cast. Well, the action sequences were very poorly directed a la the sudden slow motion death sequences (which reminds the audience that they're watching a movie). However, I suspected this would all be cleared up once we got into the "court room" phase of the movie... and I was right. The director couldn't shoot an action sequence to save his life, but did a good job with the remainder of the film (which consisted of non-action scenes). I was worried that there was going to be some psuedo-Hollywood twist on the film's message and was pleasantly surprised that it didn't take that stance either. I also wasn't sure if it was a true story going on, but apparently it was at least based on a true story. Kudos to Tommy Lee Jones who was his typically outstanding self. Oh and as usual, I found a hole in the story. Most of the case was built around the fact that there wasn't video of terrorists shooting at the front of the US Embassy in Kenya. But there was an audio tape of the transmissions which would've displayed to the jury just how heavy the artillery was coming into the Marines atop the building. I couldn't believe Tommy Lee Jones' character didn't think of it... Oh well, maybe it was in the director's cut.

A pre-9/11 American movie about American relationships with Arabic countries. Could be interesting. Or maybe not...

I was not expecting too much of this movie about Americans at war. Considering the director and the cast, I had a look at it. How is ... (read more) A pre-9/11 American movie about American relationships with Arabic countries. Could be interesting. Or maybe not...

I was not expecting too much of this movie about Americans at war. Considering the director and the cast, I had a look at it. How is it possible that a guy who did The French Connection and The Exorcist directed such a simplistic movie ?

The general intention of the movie is unclear to me. The justification of the acts of the Colonel played by Samuel L. Jackson is to say the least highly unethical. I cannot believe that this kind of words or actions could be treated like this in an American military court.

Good : the acting of Samuel L. Jackson and Tommy Lee Jones is reasonable (but they do not need to force their talent). The action scenes in Yemen are entertaining.

Bad : the acting of Guy Pearce (so far from Memento that was done at the same period), Ben Kingsley (so far from Gandhi or Schindler's List), Bruce Greemwood or Anne Archer is not convincing. A bit of a waste of talent. The second part of the movie is far less interesting than the first.

But, in my opinion, the worse is the obvious underlying that Arabic people are all bad and that American people are all good. It makes the movie barely watchable.

Disappointing and very questionable.

I thought it'd be better.

Tommy Lee 'BOSS' Jones ('In the Valley of Elah') x Samuel Jackson ('Home of the Brave', 'Basic'), and Guy Pearce... more of court battle.

A fairly standard courtroom drama is rendered bracing only thanks to the depiction of action on two separate battlefields. When viewed in the context of combat, Jackson's character comes off as a consummate professional, but in day-to-day life, he ha... (read more) A fairly standard courtroom drama is rendered bracing only thanks to the depiction of action on two separate battlefields. When viewed in the context of combat, Jackson's character comes off as a consummate professional, but in day-to-day life, he has become unhinged. The conflict between these two separate lives is should be the central theme of the film, but it too frequently becomes secondary to a government cover-up that doesn't hold up under scrutiny. When paired with a fairly one-dimensional portrayal of the people of Yemen (who are clearly supposed to stand in for a wrongfully pissed middle east), the movie loses water before it can build steam. Those interested in courtroom dramas will have plenty to chew on as the primary actors bring the stand to life and Friedkin's inspired directing never lets any visual become boring.

Watch A Few Good Men instead, this one is pretty forgettable...

Decent but failed to engage me as much as I might have hoped.