midgets_are_evil Review of War Story

War Story (I) (2014)

Not everyone's cup of tea but a good film to reflect on

[8/10 · 24 August 2014]

I expected an entirely different film when I decided to watch War Story, but I feel some of the reviews have been a little unfair. This film's biggest flaw is being wrongfully advertised as a thriller, as it is very slow-paced and it can easily bore an audience, specially when they're not prepared to sit through 90 minutes of long scenes of the lead character reflecting on her traumas, life, death, etc. But this is all intentional and I believe well justified in the end, War Story's highlights are the beautiful music score (Which I'll admit was the reason I watched in the first place), a brilliant performance by Catherine Keener, and her ability to carry a film with not much dialogue but a lot of visual references, you can really see and feel Lee's pain and her suffering in some of the most subtle body language and expressions, and her frustration too. If you are expecting a violent, brutal, thriller you'll be disappointed, but as a slow-paced, believable and grievous drama that feels accurately portrayed and believable, you will appreciate it and by the end of the film you'll be left with a sense of full-circle closure.