Lonesome Soldier

Watching this movie was truly riveting. To call the character Jackson Harlow aka Alexander Randazzo anything short of a true masterpiece of production and film is a misstep of massive proportion. From the realism of the situation Jackson finds himself in, to the true bond only brother of war experience together. Lonesome Soldier perfectly portrays the disease of which the soldier is infected by when you come back home from the sandy hell hole of Iraq. While the physical battle of war is over for Jackson the mental one is running rampant and part of what makes the film so impressive is Alexander Randazzo's ability to portray that the disease is winning. I will leave this review with one last thing, a soldier doesn't want to be called a hero, he just wants his dog tags...

Lonesome Soldier is a deeply moving film that brilliantly captures the harrowing journey of a soldier grappling with the aftermath of war. Alexander Randazzo delivers a powerful performance as Jackson Harlow, masterfully portraying the complexities of PTSD with authenticity and sensitivity. The supporting cast, especially John Ashton and Allison McAtee, provide compelling and heartfelt performances, adding depth to the narrative. Director Nino Aldi's storytelling is both raw and touching, making this a must-watch for anyone seeking a profound cinematic experience about the human cost of war.

I highly recommend it to anyone willing to attempt to try to understand what our Veterans go through.

I enjoyed this movie very much although the language and drug content was extremely hard to watch. I believe it portrayed the struggle of PTSD very well as well as how the families of our soldiers also struggle with the condition. This movie should be mandatory for soldiers returning from combat as well as their family members so that we can save these soldiers the struggles that many of them face when they come home. The acting was very strong especially from the core actors who connected well together. The music also brought a very strong message to the film as it was extremely well done. I look forward to watching this film again when released on DVD.

IN A NUTSHELL: One of my sons is in the military, so this kind of movie really hits my heart hard. It's about a soldier who returns home from the Iraq War and struggles to adjust to civilian life due to PTSD. It's based on a true story but could easily represent many soldiers' tumultuous stories. In fact, several cast members are veterans. From a grateful nation, thank you for your service to our country.

The dramatic film was directed by Nino Aldi. Writing credits go to Lionel Chetwynd and Alexander Randazzo.

THINGS I LIKED: I had never seen Alexander Randazzo in anything before. I'm a new fan. He helped write and produce the movie, in addition to starring in it. He portrays several versions of his character: pre-war idealism, frightened soldier in Irag, drugged-out loser, recovering soldier, and hopeful man. He was believable in each role and did a good job. Congratulations to him.

There's a really great speech at the 1 hour 23 minute mark. Every returning soldier should hear it.

I loved the illustration of a mother's fierce love and loyalty to her son. That kind of love is extremely powerful. I hope my sons feel that from me too.

There are some realistic-looking action sequences with soldiers in Iraq that illustrate the powerful brotherhood in the military, as well as the heartwrenching moments that haunt them for the rest of their lives.

The movie does a great job showing the heavy toll that soldiers' families experience. Watching what my son and his wife have gone through during his military service, I can tell you the families of soldiers sacrifice a lot too, and deserve our utmost respect and support.

Every scene shows raw, honest emotion and will hit you in the gut.

It's so frustrating that the military trains our soldiers to be so tough that when they return home, they reject all of the services they need to make good choices in their new lives.

Out of all movie themes, HOPE is my favorite. This film displays it well.

THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE: The majority of the movie is a depressing journey with a returning soldier who gets lost into the gutter of society. His family implodes around him and you just want the sadness to end.

Some of the Southern accents are not very good.

So many scenes could have been deleted to tighten up the story. Because the film is so depressing to watch, it was too long for my heart to take.

We've seen this type of movie many times before.

TIPS FOR PARENTS: Kids will be extremely bored. This isn't appropriate for them to watch anyway.

Lots of profanity and SO many F-bombs We see the naked rear ends of soldiers in Boot Camp.

So much use of alcohol, cigarettes, marijuana, and cocaine Violence with various weapons, as well as hand-to-hand combat Explosions and destruction Blood from violence Lots of drug use Infidelity Lots of angry yelling.

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The cinematic production was truly magnificent, characterized by meticulously orchestrated cinematography. The discerning eye will delight in the abundance of underlying themes woven seamlessly into each frame. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is a condition individuals often grapple with in a private and intricate manner, making it challenging to articulate the depth of their personal turmoil. Witnessing this profound struggle depicted on the screen made me feel acknowledged and reassured that I am not alone in my experience. The intricately crafted shots, rich with profound underlying messages, have consistently captivated my senses, ensuring that even after the 5th or 6th viewing, my enduring fascination remains steadfast.