REVIEW - Restrepo - ****

Restrepo is not only the best documentary of 2010, I think it is one of the most powerful films I have seen in over a decade. Sebastian Junger (author of Perfect Storm) spent a year embedded with the Second Platoon, B Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment (airborne) of the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team in the Korangal Valley in Afghanistan. The film follows the 2nd Platoon defending OP (outpost) Restrepo, named after PFC Restrepo who is KIA before the film begins.

Junger follows the 2nd Platoon as they fight to defend OP Restrepo against 4-5 attacks a day. The Korengal Valley is remote and a largely unknown section of Afghanistan, the valley is very close to Pakistan. The OP was positioned to serve as notice to Al-Qaeda, a geographical middle finger. Al-Qaeda responds by attacking, and moving closer and closer. There is never victory for our soldiers, only the call to another fight. In the end, the valley is abandoned, we gained nothing. 50 soldiers died in that valley and I cant help but think about their families.

This blog is not right or left, it is good film or bad film. A forum for debate on films with a particular focus on Grindhouse and Exploitation cinema. It also is a spot to review films that impact us or we think are worth your time. Restrepo is worth your time. Hopefully, it causes you to think what you are doing with that time, and what others are doing in the name of security to ensure you have that quite moment of pause.

See you on forty deuce
G