Home of the Brave
Buena Vista Pictures
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Home of the Brave chronicles the lives of four American soldiers set to return home from a humanitarian mission in Iraq in two weeks, when they are ambushed. The fall-out from this attack changes their lives dramatically, physically and mentally. The soldiers struggle to cope with the trivialities of life back home in Spokane, have flashbacks of Iraq, feel isolated and are unable to re-integrate back into their former lives. Clearly, the ramifications of a war run deep.

The soldiers’ relationships between family, lovers, and themselves begin to disintegrate. Vanessa Price (Jessica Biel) is a soldier whose arm gets amputated as a result of the attack, made worse by the fact that she’s a gym teacher as well as a single mom. Tommy (Brian Presley) lost his best friend during the ambush, consequently suffers from survivor’s guilt and cannot find his footing. Samuel L. Jackson plays Will Marsh, a doctor who returns to not very tender familial relations, namely a teenage son that despises the war and his father for serving in it.

The premise is timely though the idea of post-traumatic stress disorder has been explored more effectively in other movies. What the soldiers bring from Iraq highlights the effects of war on their loved ones at home, the hurdles they face as a result of serving their country, and how the brave cannot remain brave at all times.

The attack and ensuing battle at the outset failed to captivate me like it should have. Perhaps it’s because Home of the Brave is shot digitally, giving it a sterility, or perhaps, it is a movie that just tried to say more than it could. The flashbacks are cheesy and the movie felt formulaic. That being said, it’s not a total write-off. There are some great moments, especially from Sam Jackson as a doctor (spoiler alert) who forgets how to feel. Jessica Biel, Brian Presley and (surprisingly) Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson are convincing as their respective characters, but I was never enthralled. Perhaps that is the point of the film, to highlight the alienation troops feel upon their return, feelings that are universal in scope, but very localized in the reality of one’s everyday life. Or perhaps, this is just an average movie that had the potential to be much more.

Video: How's it look?
Widescreen 2.35: 1 (recommended), Full Screen 1.33:1

Audio: How's it sound?
Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound (Soundtrack is very sparse and simple. Nothing fancy here.)

Extras: What additional goodies are included?

• French & Spanish Language Tracks
• French & Spanish Subtitles
• Deleted Scenes – (There are only two short deleted scenes, with commentary or without).
• Audio Commentary – with Director Irwin Winkler, Co-producer Rob Cowan, and Screenwriter Mark Friedman (Recommended viewing. This film was well-researched and as always, there are some interesting tidbits about the casting process, especially in regards to 50 Cent’s increased screen time.)
• Overall, there are slim pickings when it comes to Extras.

Closing Thoughts
Don’t expect an action movie or you’ll be sorely disappointed. Don’t expect a full out drama either, as Home of the Brave never quite gets there. What you will get, is a glimpse into post-traumatic stress disorder, and all the problems it engenders.


Review brought to you by our friend Anh. Anh Chu is a writer, preditor (tv speak for producer/editor) and not actually a bodily function like her name implies. You can reach her at choochoochoo@hotmail.com.