Badland

Finally managed to get a DVD of Badland and I'm so glad. It's a brave rendering of how war can torment those who have experienced it and how life is never the same once a veteran is back in 'normal life'. How this film has been passed over by 'mainstream' movie watchers is beyond me because it's incredible.

The cast is excellent, Jamie Draven is outstanding as Jerry and deserves no end of credit for taking on and shining in such a hard hitting and powerful main role. You feel for Jerry the whole way through, despite every decision he makes, everything he does and doesn't do. It's a long film but the character is so strongly played you cannot stop watching and physically need to know how it turns out. Joe Morton and Grace Fulton also deserve accolades in their roles.

The writing is great, the story is consistently strong and this film deserves to be seen. In addition, the scenery is beautiful.

The speech Jerry bellows at Max under the tree is harsh but seems to be pretty close to the mark...what better excuse is there? It happens over and over. I imagine that this is part of the reason a lot of people seem to have missed out on this amazing film - do critics feel this is too honest for the mainstream? Sad if so because there's a lot of unworthy ego-rubbing films that are seen by millions. Will we ever learn?

I do believe this was a well intentioned movie and I'm very hesitant to pick on a movie that tries to draw attention to the mental health issues Veterans might have. I feel like the writer(s) and director got some stuff right, the music was good, and the acting was decent. The little girl really did the best job overall. The cinematography was excellent. I won't get into whether the vets particular behaviors are accurate as everyone is different, w different experiences and reactions. I do wish that any movie w military subject matter would hire a knowledgeable advisor.

Diner scene- First off, Marines, or anyone in the military generally don't galavant around town in their "cammies" or bdus when off duty. But this is forgivable. What isn't is the uniform the one "Marine" is wearing was laughable. First of all, the pattern was waaaay out of date- it was only used from like 90-91and is actually kind of scarce. It had No rank, No name tapes, no EGA, no US Marines, nothing. The USMC patch wasn't issue, or even close. The uniform was brand new- it did not just return from a deployment or any type of use. Also his cover (hat) wasn't even military issue, much less USMC issue. This sounds nitpicky but trust me, it's not. This is easy stuff to get right. I mean, was there anyone at all w military experience editing or pre screening this stuff?

Also, I was thinking more of a First Blood type movie- what I got was a kinda boring drama w almost no action. Anyhow, not a bad movie, I just wish they'd done a few things differently. It could've been very good but just was ok.

This is a quite long film (almost 3 hours) but you don't really see the time pass by as it is very poignant and gripping. The scenario is well constructed, acting is excellent as well as film direction. There are some glitches (like a wound in the girl's hand that appears completely healed in a scene then is shown again with a bloody plaster on it in the next one) but they are very minor.

Overall, it is an excellent film about the traumatic and dramatic results of war on the psyche and life of American soldiers when they come back to the States. Jamie Draven plays the role of Jerry, an American soldier who has tremendous difficulties to adjust to normal life again. To make matters worse, his wife thinks he is an a**hole, they live in a sordid home and environment with three children and a fourth one is in the womb. Jerry commits something tragic (can't say what… would be a spoiler) and as a consequence, engages in a drama-laden trip in his homeland with a constant refusal to accept full redemption leading to a tragic end for the only thing that could have saved him from himself (can't say what again;-)

The penultimate flash scene could have been removed as it unrealistically questions the whole story's existence. Whereas the whole film could shock audiences, that scene tries to come back on that jolt like they were not so sure about going the full length. Anyway, fortunately it was a very short scene which you could choose to ignore

One cannot watch this film and not be affected by the emotional impact it has long after leaving the theater. Badland is the type of powerful movie that longs to be discussed and debated.

The film is a disturbing view into the psyche of one man who returns from war beaten and broken. Jamie Draven gives an amazing performance as Jerry, the vet who returns home to a world as alien as the one he was fighting in. His tormented soul struggles to fit back into society, only to find that he is truly lost.

Jerry can no longer relate to his wife and children and without giving anything away, his anguish sets him on a path of self destruction. The only ray of sunshine on his tortured journey, is that of his daughter Celina, played with the maturity of a veteran actress by young Grace Fulton.

The music is haunting in it's simplicity and underscores the torment of Jerry's character. The panoramic vistas seem to add a sense of normalcy and serenity to an otherwise harsh and brutal subject matter and they seem to enhance Jerry's yearning to find peace and redemption. But Jerry realizes that his dream to find peace and a new beginning only brings out more ghosts and memories of his past. He can't escape what he's done and he can't undo the terrible acts of violence he has committed. And when he meets Max, also a war vet, played by actor Joe Morton, he is reminded with blinding clarity that the sins of the past really do follow you forcing you to face them with the force of a sledge hammer. Jerry is so out of touch with reality that he attempts to weave a new life for himself in the face of his brutally violent acts. He is so shattered that he believes he can simply step away from his past and step into a new life like changing a pair of pants. To his horror, he discovers he cannot.

The entire cast gave outstanding performances bringing the realities of war home and one can only wonder just how beaten and broken the vets who come home truly are. This powerful film gives us a glimpse into ravages of war and one cannot help but be affected by emotional whirlwind the characters go through as we follow them.

Director Francesco Lucente has given us a movie without the tired cliché flashbacks of war footage. We already know that war is physically devastating, what Badland shows us is the devastation it has on the soul. It is truly a courageous film that will be the topic of discussion for years to come and a MUST see film.

A fantastic, moving, dramatic film about the casualties--at home--of the Iraq War..The devastating impact of one returning veteran's spin out of control demonstrates with hurricane force the effects of the psychologically-wounding war on his entire family and all those he comes in contact with.

The majestic musical score heightens the tension, but provides a level of calmness and beauty to an otherwise gut wrenching and frantic story line.

Grace Fulton as Celina, the veteran's young daughter is wise beyond her years. She gives tender and lighthearted relief to her bleak circumstances . Exceptional performance.

Vietnam had Francis Ford Coppola's "Apocalypse Now", Michael Cimeno's "Deerhunter" and Hal Ashby's "Coming Home".

Writer/Director Francesco Lucente has given dramatic voice and a (rare) classic take on our current "war of choice" You will think about the context of this film and will want to take another look. We certainly will.

Dudley & Josephine Foot