Home of the Brave (Irwin Winkler, 2006)

With: Samuel L Jackson, Jessica Biel, 50 Cent, Brian Presley, Christina Ricci

Plot: The film follows four Iraq veterans as they deal with returning to America after their tour of duty

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A well-meaning, and largely well-acted soap opera, this is unfortunately full of terrible writing (sample line - to an angry, distant amputee - "I guess it only takes one good hand to push people away"). At first I thought it was admirably restrained, before figuring out it was just tedium. Things still get hysterical with little logic, and the characters are relatively bland archetypes which you find yourself getting annoyed with rather than sympathising. Still, a few moments and strands are satisfying (Jackson's troubled relationship with his anti-war son for example) and the groundwork for a powerful drama is there if only the characters were better.

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