Film Summary"War Machine" is a 2017 satirical war film produced and directed by David Michôd. The film stars Brad Pitt, depicting a charming, egocentric basic put in charge of the War in Afghanistan. The film is a loose adjustment of the Michael Hastings book, "The Operators", that provides a fictionalized variation of General Stanley McChrystal's period during the Afghan war, painting a paradoxical picture of the detach between military and political hierarchies. The film was released on Netflix.
Plot Overview"War Machine" starts as President Obama designates General Glen McMahon (Brad Pitt) as the leader of worldwide forces in Afghanistan. McMahon, a reputable four-star basic, brings a robust group of handlers and assists to put his brave plan into action ending the war. He believes that triumph would be possible if he could just get more troops, versus the wishes of the civilian federal government that selects him.
His efforts to suppress corruption and build infrastructure as part of a wider nation-building objective, nevertheless, are consulted with cynicism and resistance by Afghan officials and the local populace. McMahon's efforts are even more complicated by a Rolling Stone journalist, Sean Cullen (Scoot McNairy), who is embedded with McMahon's team and observes the dysfunction and disconnect between military method and political truth.
Key Themes and ConclusionThe movie satirically checks out the U.S.'s military policies and methods overseas, particularly in Iraq and Afghanistan. It exhibits the political disarray connected plainly with wartime policy and the tendency of military and politicians to ignore the complex truths on the ground. The movie represents these complexities through the experiences of McMahon, his team, and his interactions with regional Afghans, the Afghan federal government, and the U.S. government.
Various scenes specifically highlight the disconnection, such as McMahon's interaction with an Afghan farmer who does not want the Americans' help to reconstructing his country and views them as occupiers, not liberators. And above all, it illustrates the disconnect between people who are captured in the crossfire of contrasting political ideologies that lead to unforeseen war results.
In the end, a magazine post by Sean Cullen leads to McMahon's failure. McMahon's improper remarks, together with his team's unflattering representation in the post, activates his shooting and the replacement by another general who shares the very same views.
Overall Impact"War Machine" is a creatively drawn analysis of the modern war bureaucracy and the males and women who make it. In its mockery and satirical anguish, the movie slams the useless warfare practices and misguided methods that have actually controlled contemporary U.S. military policy. Although some critics note that the movie's satirical tone disputes with the severe styles, the film is commonly acknowledged as an incisive review of contemporary warfare. Its non-linear narrative structure and acerbic, yet worrying funny, provides a novel approach in highlighting the absurdity of war and its incongruity with the systems leading it.
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