Brad Pitt has been known for many films, each seeming to add to the success and acclaim for the award-winning actor. Sadly, the same cannot be said for the upcoming satirical film "War Machine" in which he stars. Panned with mostly negative reviews, the Netflix exclusive seems to be getting bad criticism before it has ever been officially released.
'War Machine' inspired by true events
"War Machine" follows the story of General Glen McMahon, played by Brad Pitt, and his mission to bring a swift end to the Allies' war against Afghanistan. However, the character's ego, hard-headedness, and perhaps even his unhealthy measure of stupidity led the four-star general to make the war situation worse than when it started.
The movie is director David Michod's adaptation of a book called "The Operators: The Wild and Terrifying Inside Story of America’s War in Afghanistan." It is a nonfiction written by Michael Hastings, an American journalist who is known for his contributions in online magazines Rolling Stone and BuzzFeed.
The book was supposed to be a follow-up to a Rolling Stone article where Hastings detailed his time with General Stanley McChrystal, whom the "War Machine" protagonist is based upon. Hastings described, among other things, how McChrystal and his team mocked American leaders and the U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan, in the aforementioned article that led to McChrystal's eventual resignation.
'War Machine' gets mixed reviews
As for the movie itself, some viewed it as Michod taking Hastings' work and turning it into his own brand of satirical Political Commentary. However, criticism about the film indicates that the movie did not turn out to be the witty comedy it aspires to be. Rotten Tomatoes, a popular movie review site, gave the film a 58% approval rating, which indicated mixed reviews. Folks over at Metacritic, another reputable review site, scored the film 42 out of 100, based on 7 critics.
As grim as the film's prospect was, the movie is not without redeeming qualities. There is one particular scene that brings out the unmistakable horror of war, and it's one where the protagonists get into a battle while looking for the bad guys. Without delving into spoiler territory, let us just say that the particular scene brings out what we fear most in war and the realities that come with this dreadful business — yet seldom thought or talked about.
Regardless of critical opinion, people who are interested in seeing the film need not wait too long. Catch Brad Pitt in "War Machine," which will be released on 26 May 2017, on Netflix.