While Brandon's story is the central tale, it is not the only one. Brandon's friends and fellow veterans are integral parts of the film's tapestry. First there is Steve Shriver (Channing Tatum), Brandon's best friend, who is having an awful time readjusting. He is drinking and imagining he is back in the desert. It is causing friction with his friends and pushing his fiancee, Michelle (Abbie Cornish), away. Second is Bobby (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) who is probably having the worst time of all. He survived while his best friend died in his arms. The only way he has been able to deal is by drinking, which gets him into trouble and could lead to dire consequences with regards to his young marriage and his beloved military service.

In the end, it does not offer any easy answers, nor is it a terribly satisfying conclusion. As it reached its climax and the credits began to roll, I was left wondering why. On some level I understand, but it seems to fly in the face of much of what we have been presented with. It leaves you struggling to deal with the choices made and the fates that befell some of our protagonists.

The movie works best when it is showing the problems that soldiers encounter upon their return, which is the main focus. However, some of the situations seem too coincidental and a bit unconvincing. My reaction feels odd and a bit half-hearted with no real explanation. It succeeds at its goal better than Home of the Brave and benefits from good performances from its primary actors. The script has moments of excellence, but other times feels heavy-handed and unbelievable.

Kimberly Peirce directed the movie, her first since 1999's Boys Don't Cry. For the most part she does a good job of taking us into the complicated and conflicted lives of her subjects. The biggest weakness would be the script, co-written by Peirce with Mark Richard.

Bottom line. You could do worse; however, the satisfying Iraq-themed film still seems to be unattainable at present. It has to be difficult to craft a film centered on a conflict that is still ongoing. Still, the films do help point to issues that we need to be aware of if we are going to win the war and bring our troops home and be able to provide them with the help they are sure to need. So, yes, I can recommend this film despite not being its biggest fan. It has some strong moments and its goal is an admirable one.

Recommended.