ViewGuide

Created Aug 01, 2010 08:59PM PST • Edited Aug 01, 2010 08:59PM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   OK 2.5

   A war movie that isn’t really about war – but instead is a coming of age drama about a young man on a 96 hour leave before his deployment to Iraq. Filled with drama that comes from confronting the past – a punk kid life in Bakersfield – and the future: responsible behavior, a beautiful new girlfriend, and an upcoming deployment – this movie views life from several angles and meanders a bit between them. As a result, the film looses a little of its potential punch, but it is entertaining nonetheless, and I would recommend it for those of you (like me), who pretty much watch every film have anything at all do do with war.

4. Acting

   Good 3.0

   Mike (Nick Cannon) and Cristina (Melonie Diaz) are the main event with an obvious chemistry, but my pick of the flick is Matt O’Leary as the home-boy Jake – trapped in the Bakersfield vortex.

5. Male Stars Good 3.0

6. Female Stars Good 3.0

7. Female Costars Good 3.0

8. Male Costars Good 3.0

10. Film

    OK 2.5

    The movie’s focus on the military as being a transition from a go-nowhere life to a promising future is a bit overstated, but is a decent backdrop to what essentially is a character drama. It works, but lacks an impact that I’m used to from other ware/drama genre films.

11. Direction OK 2.5

12. Play OK 2.5

13. Music OK 2.5

14. Visuals OK 2.5
15. Content

16. Edge

    Risqué 1.8

17. Sex Titillating 1.8

18. Violence Fierce 1.8

19. Rudeness Salty 1.8

21. Reality

    Glib 1.5

22. Circumstantial Glib 1.5

23. Biological Glib 1.5

24. Physical Glib 1.5