rrcharpe I am a Vietnam combat veteran who has had PTSD (never did go see a doc or shrink and I'm already 67 so missed out on that)and had some quite violent confrontations for the first 8 years after I got out. The difference between my situation and this contrived load of BS is that in my case I refused to "knuckle under" to thugs that I would see either beating on a loved one, ripping someone off of their personal items when I was close enough to do something about it or threatening others with violence. I'm not proud to say I never lost a fight in my life. However, all that said, the premise of this movie is quite flawed. Even if it is just a single representation of a return U.S. Military vet going on a violent streak and then taking his own life, in a sense it is a metaphor (or at least the writers of it wanted it to be) for the supposed generalized malaise of returning vets. The actual truth is that regardless of our (meaning U.S. combat veterans who were discharged honorably) memories of war and subsequent reintegration back into "normal American society" the vast majority of vets cope with things (as I did) and remain honorable men. No returning vets I have ever met (although I know there are statistically a few who do it) have actually committed suicide. I would boycott this movie if you can as it does not in any way represent the reality of most returned combat veterans and is a leftist Hollywood way of saying "our returning combat troops are generally flawed and out of control (which can be disproven). I only fought to protect people when I got out and never started any fight. I have no record as in all cases I was found to be in the right. StocktonRob

deepak-99969 I was employed at a VA Hospital for two years. No matter what department you are in, you get to know some of the guys who are there on a regular basis. Hard to admit, but this is an all to frequent tale of someone unable to adapt once they make it home. It may be a bit dramatic or theatrical in places, but that's the idea of a fiction I guess. I just felt the need to say that from my experience, the plot of this film is not too far fetched to be believable. I wish I had a solution to the problem addressed in the story, but I don't think there is one beyond ending all conflict, which is never going to happen. As long as people are sent to fight the battles of more powerful people, these issues will persist. At least someone took the initiative to address it in a narrative form, which will make a lot more people aware of it that otherwise would be. This is not an action thriller as it's made out to be, but certainly worth the watch.

roell29 A brilliant, greatly underrated flick. Deeply immersive with a high degree of psychological realism in the context of a gritty hyper-realistic noir. The director/writer evinces an uncommonly acute understanding of human nature. The interactions of the protagonist with the three main characters, all on the fringe of society, are fascinating. Well, two of the three, anyway. The third was just a rotten SOB. The twist and the end, though done many times before, works nicely and was entirely unanticipated by me. I did not detect a false note in the entire movie. If you are a fan of Paul Schrader's work, this is right up your alley. Mr. Kennedy has an intriguing vision and I sincerely hope he gets a chance to make another movie.

jsever-53847 Today is my 45th wedding anniversary, except my wife died February 12 of last year. Dealing with her death after the first year left me facing the black hole I have ignored for 52 years - Panel 01E, Line 79, the Wall. My best friend in the Army, whom I trained, died in Nam early on - December, 1963. As part of finally facing this, I have been reading some about the war, written by Vets - The Things They Carried (I was Infantry) and The Sorrow of War (by a North Vietnam Vet). This movie came along. I'm not a movie reviewer, not a movie historian, just an old guy that has seen a lot of movies and like dumb, mindless action flicks mostly with lots of colorful explosions, and maybe some breasts. And the good guys always win in the end. So don't expect sophistication.This movie is for one, black and white noir. For two, is painfully slow for the first 30 minutes, picks up a bit the next 30 minutes, and has a decent ending. I found it very painful. So I rated it in the middle. I'm sure college kids taking movie appreciation classes will love it. It has all the noir ingredients that make movies so cool. They have not had to live this stuff.Every Veterans Day, I go to town, order two pints of beer, drink one and bring my buddy up to date on what has happened, and leave - with one full pint left untouched. We made a deal 52 years ago and counting. I'm gonna keep it until I die, which hopefully won't be a lot of years from now. I first went to Nam in 1985 on a Veteran's project - point of the spear for normalizing relations - and was met by a vet from the project (and good friend) and we spent two of the craziest weeks I have ever had in (what was) North Vietnam. We cried a lot together, and separately, then came back escorting 7 Indian orphans (don't ask). Two months later he was dead from an overdose - his name, and many more like him, should be on the Wall, but are not.This movie addresses that pain, well acted by them too young to have experienced it. I honestly don't know how to rate it. Did I like? No.Will I forget it soon?Probably never.Is this really a movie review? Naw, just something I had to say. I will never forget this movie, and I will never like it, either. So a 5.