Two War Stories(Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk-R and ALLIED PG-16)

November 13 BILLY LYNN'S LONG HALFTIME WALK

(source)

19-year-old Billy Lynn is brought home for a victory tour after a harrowing Iraq battle. Through flashbacks the film shows what really happened to his squad - contrasting the realities of war with America's perceptions.-imdb

Director:

 Ang Lee

Writers:

 Ben Fountain (based on the novel by), Jean-Christophe Castelli (screenplay)

Stars:

 Joe Alwyn, Garrett Hedlund, Arturo Castro, Vin Diesel, Steve Martin, Chris Tucker, Kristen Stewart and Makenzie Leigh

November 23 ALLIED

(source)

During World War II, intelligence officer Max Vatan (Brad Pitt) is stationed in North Africa where he encounters French Resistance fighter Marianne Beausejour (Marion Cotillard) on a deadly mission behind enemy lines. Reunited in London, their relationship is threatened by the extreme pressures of the war. -WWW

In 1942, an intelligence officer in North Africa encounters a female French Resistance fighter on a deadly mission behind enemy lines. When they reunite in London, their relationship is tested by the pressures of war. -imdb

Director:

 Robert Zemeckis

Writer:

 Steven Knight

Stars:

Brad Pitt, Vincent Ebrahim, Xavier De Guillebon, Marion Cotillard, Lizzy Caplan, Matthew Goode, Pearl Rumbelow and Luna Rumbelow

(source)

Anna, Max and Marianne

War is stupid.  It's really, really stupid.  A lot of innocents are considered collateral damages or casualties.  There are no REAL victors.  All are losers.

Some of us are blessed because we live in places with semblances of peace, but we won't be truly blessed if we are not aware that all over the world there are people who are continuously battling for dear life and their beautiful countries are almost erased from the World Atlas because of war.

The two movies that I am blogging about are wars where there are people who have experienced them that are still alive and are experiencing post traumatic stress disorder. 

Both movies are written, directed and acted well, although some of the ALLIED critics think that the acting of Brad Pitt and Marion Cotillard became stiff and unbelievable because of the rumor mill. I don't agree.  I think they just think that way because of what the grapevine produced.

They did look like people in love, but I guess there were times that they did look stiff, so I can't blame their professional detractors.

There was one thing that amazed me.  I didn't know that a sandstorm could turn people on and heighten their desire for each other. There were people known to have their emotions heightened during times of danger, so I guess you could say that the situation is quite similar, if not the same.

Inside Brad Pitt and Marion Cotillard’s Allied Love Scenes

Allied: the chilling story behind Brad Pitt's new war film

My favorite actors were the ones who played Baby Anna

*****

Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk's format is quite interesting.  Ang Lee, who is a Taiwanese American, seems to love the country that adopted him so much that it shows in his work.  It's a lovely film, but there were scenes that made me sleep.  Anyways, as a whole, I liked it.  Ang Lee, besides being a great director, is a great artist. 

For the technical aspects, here are some links where my thoughts were seemingly verbalized:

Review: ‘Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk’: Ang Lee’s Super-High-Definition Take on the Iraq War

New York Film Review: ‘Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk’