The War At Home
The chances were small that I would ever see this independent film, but it happened anyway. I became aware of War's existence when I saw its preview on a VHS copy of Grosse Pointe Blank. Starring solid actors Martin Sheen, Kathy Bates and Emilio Estevez, this movie sparked my interest. I tracked down a copy at a local video store and watched it with much surprise; the final product far exceeded my expectations.
Jeremy Collier (Estevez, who also directs) is a Vietnam veteran. Physically intact but psychologically scarred, Jeremy has trouble readjusting to home life. He experiences frequent flashbacks and has become a different person since being drafted into the Army.
The rest of the Collier family is unintentionally doing their part to keep Jeremy's mood sour. Mr. Collier (Sheen) is the self-centered, brusque, asshole father that we are glad/wished we didn't have. Mrs. Collier (Bates) is a nice mother who resents the ungratefulness of her husband and children and often articulates her misery. Karen (ultra-cute Kimberly Williams) is Jeremy's younger sister who resents Jeremy's involvement in the war.
War's strongest asset is the performances by the consistently strong Sheen and Bates, as well as Estevez. Sheen and Bates almost guarantee excellence in every role they undertake. Estevez, as an actor, hasn't been this good since The Breakfast Club. His portrayal of Jeremy is as powerful as an experienced body-builder.
Estevez's directing effort is unnoticed art. He introduces the individual Colliers' peccadilloes and shows how the family becomes more dysfunctional throughout the movie. Jeremy's transition from reality to flashback is smooth, as if Jeremy himself couldn't distinguish between the former and the latter. The exciting climax proves that Estevez is the star of the show, in terms of directing and performance.
One way War distinguishes itself from other Vietnam movies is that it doesn't make any tired claims about the Vietnam War or the treatment of veterans. The flashback scenes describe the Vietnam War in general terms: Soldiers fire at the enemy, and people die. The justification (or lack thereof) for said war is not one of the movie's main issues; Born on the Fourth of July already covered that subject. Nobody spits on Jeremy or calls him a "baby killer" during the course of the movie. I don't believe that Jeremy is meant to be a representative of other Vietnam vets; this film is about one veteran trying to get over the horrors of war.
Out of all the Vietnam movies I have seen (Apocalypse Now Redux, Platoon, Born on the Fourth of July, Full Metal Jacket, The Deer Hunter and The War at Home), the latter is the only one that concentrates on the psychological effects of war on soldiers. The others, which are excellent movies, preach about the madness of the war in Vietnam. War might be a bad idea, but watching The War at Home is definitely a good one.
Send any comments/ feedback to the author.
Some alcohol could ease your nerves during the tense climax.
There are no romantic themes or sex scenes in this film.
Buy this film from Amazon.com
Related Articles:
1) The Breakfast Club
2) Black Hawk Down
