There is quite a bit of discussion in this pseudo docu-drama film, not much action, if you count the fire-fight that ensues between the Special Forces and the Taliban, but nonetheless, forgetting the rather apathetic acting by Redford in his role as professor, the annoyed and rather hurried delivery of her lines by Streep, and the less than convincing role as Senator and mastermind behind the covert action by Cruise, the movie’s most complex and convincing character is Andrew Garfield, who plays Todd Hayes, a student in Redford’s class. Let’s just say that he also represents an immutable truth. Unlike Ernest and Arian ordered to stay and fight, Hayes has the freedom to choose and act, the education, and the apathy to go along with it. He represents the other side of the spectrum, morally outraged but unable or unwilling to fight.
It is interesting to note that Cruise’s strategy is to take the higher ground both militarily and morally – proving once again to the world that America is strong and right, which also underlies the film’s message of becoming an active participant in the decisions one makes to fight or stand down, in war like in life. It makes us feel rather fuzzy and warm inside, but at the same time, irritable and frustrated as we too, strive to achieve that high ground. It isn’t enough to state that you’re for or against a certain policy it seems, but that you take action to see that policy succeed. “Whatever it takes,” says Senator Irving — and out of Iraq by 2013, says Senator McCain.
So, while Senator Irving tries to convince Janine Roth, a journalistic lion in her younger years, to speak her “truth” once again, an appetite for the truth she has seemingly lost over the years – but this time about the progress in Afghanistan – Roth suddenly realizes that she has been reporting propaganda all these years, wrapped in a veil of pre-ordained sound bytes. A lot like, if you will, introducing a wolf in sheep’s clothing to your unsuspecting herd.
During this time, Professor Malley tries to convince his young protégé to take control of his life, through a weak series of arguments and Vietnam War anecdotes, that yields the following insight: “If you fail, you’ll know that you at least tried.” As the movie continues to flip-flop back and forth to each group, we begin to realize that failure is not an option for Ernest and Arian. It is a matter of life and death.
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