comment #1

le corbeau says ...

The best actual comment on the quality of the film itself, as opposed to those who keep bringing it up for political reasons, is Chris Willman in Entertainment Weekly:

If Arabs upset at the American presence in Iraq kidnapped some American actors and forced them to make a propaganda film, they'd be hard-pressed to make one much more simple-minded than Redacted — though at least theirs probably wouldn't resemble a stagy, overacted, off-off-Broadway play quite as much as this one does. On a formal level, Redacted is fascinating; it consists entirely of faked "found" video footage, culled together from soldiers' camcorders, surveillance footage, and even terrorist websites. Yes, it's Casualties of War meets The Blair Witch Project. But the conceit of having sneering American soldiers passionately plan, commit, and cover up their heinous misdeeds in the full view of camera lenses ensures there's not a believable minute in a film that styles itself as a faux documentary. By the time you get to the actual rape scenes, you may feel you're watching a new genre: anti-war porn.

comment #2

Reedyb says ...

That EW quote seemed a little on the political side on a certain level. But if this is as simplistic as "Casualties of War" was, then I'm not excited. I have long been a dePalma defender (yes, there is no excuse, Virginia, for The Black Dahlia), but if it's not even an interesting stylistic exercise, then what do we have? Fodder for Bill O, I think.

Now there's an interesting porn title, The Story of Bill O!

comment #3

D.Z. says ...

"You sonavabitch!", screamed the director..."I tackled ALL the problems in society, and I still lost?!"

comment #4

MathewM says ...

What was the last good film that DePalma made? Carlito's Way? But really, the only thing good about that film are the performances. Redacted sounds like DePalma grabbing for media attention and some adoration from the anti-american crowd. In other words, he's hacking per usual...

comment #5

NYCBusybody says ...

"...the idiot who praises with enthusiastic tone, all centuries but this and every country but his own.."

comment #6

Rod32303 says ...

Whatever. Willman speaks for himself. I'm there.

comment #7

Rod32303 says ...

and for an opposing view of Willman -

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/imdb/reviews/article_display.jsp?rid=9704&vnu_special_account_code=thrsiteimdbpro

comment #8

le corbeau says ...

"The director makes great use of Handel's "Sarabande" in the picture, the somber tones familiar as the main title music in Kubrick's "Barry Lyndon." It's a reminder that nothing depicted in this film is new"

He said it, not me!

comment #9

BurmaShave says ...

I'm looking forward to Amy Heckerling's Iraq film, GET THE FUCK OUT.

comment #10

ScreenRant.com says ...

How much more impressive it would have been if DePalma turned his efforts towards making a film using the exact same methods, but instead covered the story of the kidnapping and beheading of innocent civilian contractors in Iraq?

Of course if he did THAT he wouldn't get invited to anymore Hollywood parties, plus his life would now be in danger.

Vic

comment #11

ScreenRant.com says ...

BTW, you might want to run a spell checker when creating the titles for your posts. ;-)

Vic

comment #12

christian says ...

right, because it's hollywood party contracting companies that ordered their employees to speed unprotected through danger zones in iraq.

there is still a film to be made about massive military-industrial greed in a time of war.

comment #13

ScreenRant.com says ...

And no reply regarding the torture and murder of civilians by the OTHER SIDE.

Self-loathing lives.

Vic

comment #14

jimjonesiii says ...

of course, everyone of you already saw the movie.

comment #15

christian says ...

some of us already understand that terrorists are willing to kill and torture innocent people - we just don't think it should be done in our country's name while we're spreading hope and democracy, capiche?

comment #16

KeithNYC says ...

Let's all thank Mr.Depalma for helping Mr.Bin Laden and Al Qaeda recruit more fanatical suicide bombers with his one-sided propaganda nonsense (Mr.Moore would be proud). I guess Mr.Depalma does not ride the subways in NYC. Hey, anybody want to make a movie about how the majority of Iraq's citizens lives have improved? or should we just make movies about a few bad apples?

comment #17

christian says ...

BAGHDAD - Civilian deaths rose in August to their second-highest monthly level this year, according to figures compiled Saturday by The Associated Press. That raises questions about whether U.S. strategy is working days before Congress receives landmark reports that will decide the course of the war.
http://www.courant.com/news/nationworld/hc-iraq0902.artsep02,0,4286511.story

that's right! why those iraqis were living large until hollywood blundered into iraq to let the ignorant fools know what was really happening! i bet bin laden would never have heard of abu grahib if it wasn't for hollywood! or pat tillman's family wouldn't have accused the army of a cover-up without sean penn! good gosh a'mighty!

comment #18

Dave Polands Gut says ...

Liberals are are obsessed with trying to turn Iraq and the War on Terror into Vietnam and the Cold War.

Thankfully they havent been successful even with the media on their side.