Home of the Brave – DVD Review

Film, Reviews

Available at Amazon.com

Director

Irwin Winkler

Cast

Samuel L. Jackson ………. Will Marsh
Jessica Biel ………. Vanessa Price
Brian Presley ………. Tommy Yates
Christina Ricci ………. Sarah Schivino
Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson ………. Jamal Aiken
Chad Michael Murray ………. Jordan Owens
Joyce M. Cameron ………. Grace Owens
Victoria Rowell ………. Penelope Marsh

The Movie

War films have undergone a drastic change in the last 40 years as generations have changed. Several generations ago, war was something you did then put it behind you when you were done. An entire generation of men stormed the beaches of Normandy famously and afterwards no one worried about their mental health or their psyches. War was something that men did, bonded over, and ultimately moved past. Funny thing happened in the aftermath of the Vietnam War. While the amount of soldiers who served and adjusted without a problem seemingly remained the same, the amount of time devoted to the effects of war on the silver screen went from being minimal at best to getting more screen time than ever before. With each war or conflict featuring American soldiers there tends to come out a series of films dealing with it. With the second war in the Gulf raging currently, it’s interesting to see a new wave of films come out about the war while it’s currently raging. One of the first was Home of the Brave, which had a limited Oscar release in Los Angeles at the end of 2006 and a limited release into theatres earlier in 2007.

Home of the Brave follows the tale of several soldiers involved in the same attack right before they were to be sent home. Vanessa Price (Jessica Biel) is injured by an IED, and subsequently loses a hand. She is treated on the battlefield by Dr. Will Marsh (Samuel L. Jackson). Jamal Aiken (Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson), Tommy Yates (Brian Presley), and Jordan Owens (Chad Michael Murray) chase down the attacker, registering several kills before Jordan dies in a hail of gunfire.

After an intense opening stanza during the battle, the film shifts gears and moves back to Spokane, WA, as the four try and adjust back to civilian life. Will’s struggle with the bottle drives a wedge between him and his family. Vanessa’s lack of a hand pushes everyone away. Tommy struggles with his post-Marines career while Jamal struggles with the bureaucracy while he files paperwork for a back injury sustained during the battle. It’s a potentially fascinating film marred with he sort of plot sledgehammers and bad dialogue that would make it a good afternoon special. If this is the opening salvo of films from the “new” era of war movies in the wake of Gulf War II, then we’re in for some rough times.

A/V QUALITY CONTROL

Presented in a widescreen format with a Dolby Digital 5.1 format, the film has a terrific transfer and audio component. The war scenes come through vividly as well as the scenes back, and the audio takes full advantage of the format.

The Extras

Commentary from director Irwin Winkler, writer Mark Friedman and producer Rob Cowan

Deleted scenes with optional commentary by Irwin Winkler, Mark Friedman and Rob Cowan are included as well and are deleted from the film for good reason as they don’t add anything back into the film.

The DVD Lounge’s Ratings for Home of the Brave
CATEGORY
RATING
(OUT OF 10)
THE MOVIE

5.0
THE VIDEO

8.5
THE AUDIO

8.5
THE EXTRAS

2.0
REPLAY VALUE

4.5
OVERALL
4.0
(NOT AN AVERAGE)