What are your thoughts of Netflix's movie "War Machine"?

SGT Ben Keen — Fri, 26 May 2017 22:21:49 -0400

I just finished watching Netflix's "War Machine" which is based on the career of GEN (r) Stanley McChrystal. I found the movie to be an interesting look into how after 15 years plus years of war, the way we look at war and how those wars are fought.

As Veterans of OEF/OIF/OND, how do you think the movie showed the things we had to go through and deal with?

Response by 2LT Private RallyPoint Member made May 26 at 2017 10:24 PM

2LT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 26 May 2017 22:24:29 -0400

I didn't even know it was a thing, I'll give it a watch soon and weigh in. I've always had a lot of respect for the man, I'd be interested to see a movie take on who he is.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made May 27 at 2017 1:02 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 27 May 2017 01:02:42 -0400

I intend to watch it, but I'm not sure why it's a comedy. Just changing the main character's name doesn't mean that we all don't know it's supposed to be GEN McCrystal. And from everything I've seen in the previews, the movie is supposed to make him look like a clown, right down to the goofy way that he runs. I realize that McCrystal was hard on the Administration that denied him the resources he said he needed to win, but I'm not sure how that excuses torching his whole career. But I'll reserve final judgment until after I've seen it.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 27 at 2017 9:07 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 27 May 2017 09:07:43 -0400

Over all, terrible movie. too long for what it is. Could have been A LOT better for the story behind movie. I just really want to know if GEN McCrystal runs like that. They have really good actors in the movie and they just made a dud. There are some interesting points in the movie that make you think but other than that my initial impression wasn't that good.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 27 at 2017 3:55 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 27 May 2017 15:55:50 -0400

It was extremely stupid and had a seriously liberal agenda to it.

Response by Cpl John Barker made May 28 at 2017 10:59 AM

Cpl John Barker — Sun, 28 May 2017 10:59:48 -0400

They fucked up a lot of historical details, the military tactics were horrendous (3 foot spacing) and for some reason had Marines using army Blackhawks instead of CH53's

Response by COL Charles Williams made May 29 at 2017 12:33 AM

COL Charles Williams — Mon, 29 May 2017 00:33:31 -0400

SGT Ben Keen Brad Pitt looks nothing like a Soldier or Leader... Nor, is he.

Response by PFC Jim Mills made May 29 at 2017 1:46 AM

PFC Jim Mills — Mon, 29 May 2017 01:46:23 -0400

Switched the channel 15 minutes in

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 31 at 2017 2:35 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 31 May 2017 14:35:10 -0400

Haven't watched it yet but I read that it got horrible reviews...

Response by Maj Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 1 at 2017 12:52 PM

Maj Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 01 Jun 2017 12:52:15 -0400

I worked on Gen McChrystal's PR staff for USFORA and ISAF HQ in 2009 before this incident occurred with Rolling Stone. After watching this film, it definitely had a clear agenda, touching on issues we have mulled over for almost 2 decades regarding the complexity of a counterinsurgency in a country that has such a high population of people who do not identify as Afghans and who, when we leave, are still there enduring the chaos that abounds. This film did a good job of getting me to think about our strategy in trying to "liberate" and spread democracy....what's really in the local populations' best interests, not just big businesses best interests? On the other hand, the depiction of the General was mediocre at best - yes, he did have a stringent regimen that kept him on track with handling all the responsibilities placed on a senior officer to lead both US Forces and over 42 other countries (many of which were not allowed to conduct offensive operations). Overall, I'm concerned that someone without the history and context of the geo-political environment in the Middle East may watch this and walk away thinking our General officers are just pawns put in place by our political leaders. I'd say Gen McChrystal had one of the toughest jobs in our current history and under the constraints placed upon him as a commander, he did truly have the Afghan peoples best interests in mind...it's a tough situation.

Response by SFC Oddie Brown made Jun 3 at 2017 4:12 PM

SFC Oddie Brown — Sat, 03 Jun 2017 16:12:57 -0400

I am just sorry that a General is once again fired by one of the most useless Commander in Chiefs ever. Still wondering how this idiot ever got elected then reelected, but that is a different story.

Response by MAJ Donald Kaufman made Jun 3 at 2017 4:35 PM

MAJ Donald Kaufman — Sat, 03 Jun 2017 16:35:00 -0400

I watched the first 10 minutes of the movie last night. Then found something else to watch - The Untouchables on Amazon Prime. Best decision I made all night.

Response by SGT Robert Wager made Jun 3 at 2017 4:39 PM

SGT Robert Wager — Sat, 03 Jun 2017 16:39:00 -0400

Idiotic movie. Not so subtle in trying to insult servicemembers

Response by COL Brian Shea made Jun 3 at 2017 5:11 PM

COL Brian Shea — Sat, 03 Jun 2017 17:11:59 -0400

It was okay. I was at ISAF HQs in 2008. I liked some of the details mentioned, such as the "National Caveats" which limit what each nation's forces can be used for. I'd say it met expectations....but I am glad we didn't spend the $$$ at a movie theater.

Response by SGT Jim Arnold made Jun 3 at 2017 7:51 PM

SGT Jim Arnold — Sat, 03 Jun 2017 19:51:21 -0400

I just finished watching this 2:02 hours of Hollywood drivel. This is more of a liberal hack piece labeled as entertainment. I'm pretty sure most if not all General Officers don't walk around like they have a corncob shoved up their posterior. The only point of the movie I liked is when he asked Karzia to lead. all in all just another POS story portraying the military as mindless buffoons

Response by LTC Jeff Snyder made Jun 4 at 2017 12:35 AM

LTC Jeff Snyder — Sun, 04 Jun 2017 00:35:20 -0400

What it did portray was his hubris and surrounding himself with the wrong folks and allowing stuff to come out in front of a reporter....Helmand was a dumb effort where many lives were needlessly lost.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 11 at 2017 7:29 PM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 11 Jun 2017 19:29:40 -0400

I'm O.K. with movies that point out the absurdity of war, especially if they invite a fair and thoughtful response from the audience, but the stated (voiced over) moral to this story was --unsympathetic reporters should be treated as the enemy. And that is too glib by half. So the movie ends up under-serving its military and civilian viewers alike.

The bone that the producers throw the military is to make the heroic lead a sympathetic and honest character, but they do not give him his due. He is depicted as a dispenser of slogans and a shallow intellect, and that's not the whole or the real story. So this isn't a tragedy that evokes the right cathartic response-- either for its military audience or for those it is trying to educate about war. It misses a real opportunity to approach the profundity of our national military efforts rather than opting for a farcical narrative.

War Machine tries hard to shape how society sees its military and its military leaders, but I hope the general viewer will be more thoughtful-- that they will consider that when our nation decides to send the military into harm's way, it also demands that its military leaders put on a brave face and take their best shot, no matter how impossible the mission seems. And we don't deserve to be served up as fun for the myopic and the condescending because we put our country first.

Response by SSG Carlos Madden made Jun 28 at 2017 4:53 PM

SSG Carlos Madden — Wed, 28 Jun 2017 16:53:26 -0400

As a movie, I wasn't a huge fan. I thought they did a good job at showing views that he was eccentric in every way - personal relationships, mannerisms, tactics, etc. To someone outside of the military, I can see how he would appear dumb and goofy but to me those were strengths in a senior leader. I thought the McChrystal/McMahon storyline epitomized the way the war has been fought since the beginning in that he's motivated by his mission but ultimately set up for failure through external policy.

Response by MSgt Mark Bucher made Jun 28 at 2017 5:48 PM

MSgt Mark Bucher — Wed, 28 Jun 2017 17:48:21 -0400

It's a comedy, not a biography. Come on man.....

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Jul 7 at 2017 5:31 PM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Fri, 07 Jul 2017 17:31:02 -0400

I'll wait for it to come out on DVD in the store.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 24 at 2020 11:23 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 11:23:57 -0400

Not bad

Response by Wayne Soares made Nov 27 at 2020 3:03 PM

Wayne Soares — Fri, 27 Nov 2020 15:03:32 -0500

Thanks for the share brother Ben