War Machine (2017)

An idiosyncratic general confronts opposition from enemies, allies, and bureaucrats while leading a massive rebuild operation in Afghanistan.

Director:

David Michôd

Writers:

Michael Hastings (book), David Michôd (screenplay)

Stars:

Brad Pitt, Daniel Betts, John Magaro

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Brad Pitt	...	Glen McMahon
Daniel Betts	...	Simon Ball
John Magaro	...	Cory Staggart
Emory Cohen	...	Willy Dunne
RJ Cyler	...	Andy Moon
Topher Grace	...	Matt Little
Anthony Michael Hall	...	Greg Pulver
Anthony Hayes	...	Pete Duckman
Nicholas Maude	...	British Officer
Paolo Gasparini	...	Plotti Balotti
Andrew Byron	...	Vladislav Melnik
Alan Ruck	...	Pat Mackinnon
Nicholas Jones	...	Dick Waddle
Griffin Dunne	...	Ray Canucci
Aykut Hilmi	...	Afghan Bureaucrat

Storyline

A general from the US is sent to Afghanistan to 'clean' the situation up after eight years of war in the country. He finds himself amongst tired soldiers and disillusioned politicians eager to leave. In this situation he feels his mission is to 'win' the war, something deemed impossible by everyone around him.

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Plot Keywords:

afghanistan | satire | counter insurgency | foreign affairs | barack obama character | 

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Taglines:

From the producers of the Big Short comes a story about the politics of war.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | War

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Certificate:

TV-MA

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook

Country:

USA

Language:

English Pushto

Release Date:

26 May 2017 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Operators

Filming Locations:

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Box Office

Budget:

$60,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Netflix, Plan B Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

122 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Despite being an anti-Afghanistan war movie, Pentagon reporter Helene Cooper spoke with The New York Times podcast The Daily that "everybody at the Pentagon is talking about [War Machine]." "It's a very anti-Afghanistan war movie, but the guys who you think would be offended by it, love it," Cooper added. "It's amazing to me. So many of them have lost colleagues, they've lost fellow soldiers and are constantly asking, 'What are we still doing there? What are we fighting for?' But at the same time, we have these officers who say, 'We've lost all these people in Afghanistan, we've spent so much blood and treasure on the ground in that country and then you just turn around and pull out. What was that for?' It's a contradiction at the same time."

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Goofs

The amount of US troops, both officers enlisted and NCOs wearing and not wearing covers both inside and out is staggering. Most especially when Super Brass are afoot everyone is gigged up and tight. No covers inside unless under arms.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Sean Cullen: [voiceover] Ah, America. You beacon of composure and proportionate response, you bringer of calm and goodness to the world... What do you do when the war you're fighting just can't possibly be won in any meaningful sense? Well, obviously, you sack the guy not winning it and you bring in some other guy. In 2009, that war was Afghanistan, and that other guy... was Glen.

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Connections

Features Dumb and Dumber (1994)

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Soundtracks

Hohenfriedberger March
from Barry Lyndon
Written by Frederick The Great
Adapted and Conducted by Leonard Rosenman
Courtesy of Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

User Reviews

Why? Why did we have the war?

First off, the criticism is too harsh. From a directorial aspect, this is not a perfect movie. Yet the movie clearly goes over the head of some people. There are numerous laughs big and small scattered through the movie where you laugh at the absurdity of the characters and the unfolding of events. At times it also gets informative and at times drama-serious. When the movie ends you feel like to have gone through a journey with General Glenn McMahon, an inside look into the relationship and mechanism of America's war in Afghanistan.

War Machine delivers its message and will prompt you into thinking. The pacing is slower at times but then catches the speed. Great chemistry between the cast with solid performances. Brad Pitt is excellent, giving a unique and strong performance that radiates as the film goes on.

An absurd story at an absurd time, this is a unique movie worth watching for its theme and characters.