Day 92- Movie 92. Restrepo (2010)

2010 was a very good year for documentaries. I really enjoyed Exit Through the Gift Shop, and Restrepo was a really, really good movie as well. And yet, neither of those films won the Academy Award for Best Documentary- that honor went to Inside Job. I'll have to check that movie out- I hope it's exceptionally good, because either of the previously two mentioned movies would have been deserving.

Restrepo follows the Second Platoon of U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan, chronicling them for an entire year. It is pretty amazing the level of access the filmmakers were granted. We get to see behind the scenes of the war in Afghanistan (and especially the Korangal Valley), to catch a glimpse of what it is like fighting and trying to survive in what CNN called "the most dangerous place in the world." The film does a good job of portraying various aspects of military life- not only the frightening, thrilling aspect of combat, but also the monotony of boring, slow days and the bond of military brotherhood shared by these brave young men. It was fascinating to watch it all unfold.

I liked how the film treated Restrepo, both the place and the man. It served as a narrative thread which held the entire movie together. I was confused about why the movie was called this (even more so after the first 10 minutes), but I quickly realized the importance of the name. I really liked that aspect of the film.

I also loved how the filmmakers simply let the movie speak for itself. It didn't appear to have an ulterior motives or specific political point it was trying to make. This wasn't a film about messages as much as it was about understanding and respecting more what our armed services are doing overseas. This film reminded me how young many of the soldiers are, and yet how much bravery and loyalty to the United States they show by voluntarily putting themselves in harm's way. I am a fan of anything that brings more attention to the sacrifices our military men and women make, and it was one of my favorite aspects of this movie.

In addition, the movie does a terrific job of portraying why the war in Afghanistan is so difficult. From the fighting landscape to the remoteness of many locations, to the difficulty in dealing with the locals, I had a new appreciation for the wars we're waging in the Middle East. The scenes about the cow really drove that point home for me. There's no easy answers, no definitive solution to the problems facing our troops there.

So, in conclusion, Restrepo is a very well made, entertaining, interesting look behind the scenes of the war in Afghanistan. It doesn't have a political message, it's simply a fascinating look in one of the world's most deadliest places. I very much enjoyed this movie, and give it a strong 7.5/10. In fact, I'm a bit surprised this movie didn't pick up the Academy Award for Best Documentary- it is certainly deserving.

Okay- I'm still on pace. 8 days to go, 8 movies left to watch. I'm getting a bit antsy for this to conclude. I am actually surprised I'm this close- there were weeks where I thought I had no chance. It is exciting, but challenging being so close, yet still hours and hours of movie watching away.