As the U.S. continues to carry out operations in places like Afghanistan, Korea, and Iraq, we should pay homage to those who have sacrificed their familial responsibilities, their health, and in many cases, their lives. Veteran’s Day is the perfect time to thank those men and women in uniform for their service in protecting our nation and to reflect on their sacrifices.
Cinema serves as a time capsule for those wars whose memories have inexplicably faded away. This allows us a chance to experience and absorb the tragedies and glory revolving around society’s propensity for war. These five films (all streaming on HBO NOW) embody that notion, and while many of us will never encounter a wall of bullets on the field of battle, perhaps these movies can arise a sense of empathy with those who have, allowing us to feel even more appreciation for the men and women who served.
American Sniper
Based on Chris Kyle’s memoir on his time as one of the deadliest Navy Seal snipers in history, American Sniper details the toll that war has on the psyche of a human being even after they arrive home. Nominated for six Academy Awards, Bradley Cooper’s searing portrayal of Kyle is at times painful to watch, but Clint Eastwood’s riveting and quiet direction of this character study is a must-see for those interested in understanding the adverse effects of battle.
Baghdad ER
The M*A*S*H TV series leaned more toward humor, but in real-life, a war-region hospital is nothing to laugh at. Baghdad ER is an unflinching documentary that follows the staff of the 86th Combat Support Hospital stationed in Iraq. It’s a graphic and heartbreaking look into the extreme sacrifices that our soldiers have promised, but it’s also a beautifully uplifting exploration of the human spirit’s fight against adversity.
Platoon
Writer-director Oliver Stone’s portrait of the horrors that men incur on each other in the theater of battle is one of the most revered war films of all time, taking home the Oscars for Best Picture and Best Director in 1987. With an all-star cast including Tom Berenger, Charlie Sheen, Willem Dafoe, and Keith David, Platoon is less of a study in war than it is an investigation into the depths one can travel when surrounded by total carnage.
Lone Survivor
Mark Wahlberg stars as Marcus Luttrell, one of a group of Navy Seals whose plan to kill a Taliban leader backfires when the Seals allow a handful of mountain herders to go free. When the enemy is notified of their presence, the soldiers must find a way to carry forward and survive the incredible odds. Based on Luttrell’s true story, Lone Survivor is a gripping tale of courage in the face of an extreme crisis.
Band of Brothers
War tales are rarely as grandiose and as sprawling as Band of Brothers. The 10-part HBO original miniseries documents the U.S. Army 101st Airborne Division’s World War II missions all the way through the surrender of Japan. Produced by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg — who previously collaborated on Saving Private Ryan, another gripping World War II project — the series focuses on the intricacies of a companionship forged by the terrors of combat.
