This is a very challenging movie to me, as the focus of the film seems to be strongly anti-Iraq War and I was in favor of the war (provided, in hindsight, there was a real strategy to win). However, as it brings up a very, very good point, it's not an anti-war film you can so easily dismiss as just "propaganda".
The film is about a Mexican-American US Marine recruiter who just found out that a guy he recruited was killed in Iraq. While his fellow recruiter isn't particularly upset by this and is still VERY mindful of his quotas, this main character is rocked. It's very interesting that not once did you really hear him SAY that he was unsure about the war or his job recruiting, but it's very obvious that this is his inner turmoil thanks to the music and exceptional way the director filmed it. I really liked how it said something without really saying something--this was amazing and the film is technically excellent.
I do wonder now that I've seen this film how indicative this film is of the way recruiters view this war--I'd love to hear from them. Is this a biased film or are these men questioning as well?
FYI--There is very "colorful" language in this film. While I have complained in many of my recent reviews about the proliferation of obscenities in films (it truly has gotten out of control lately), in this case I have no complaints--as this IS how military men talk when they are chatting with each other. So the language, though rough, is appropriate to the situation.
Also FYI--If you go to the web site for this film company (Zumpango Films), you should look over their mission statement. It says it all.
