A story about "SEVERE CLEAR" — 38 weeks ago
“I’m a Marine, that’s all I can trust” – Mike Scotti’s film-ending declaration about the complications and mixed feelings he’s faced following his experience in Iraq (and Afghanistan)
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Following his words at the ending of the film, I don’t think Scotti has honestly asked himself what it means to be a Marine. It’s unfair of me to expect more, but I do anyway. In this film, which follows most contemplative and balanced war movies, killing and war are celebrated and rationalized, then later questioned, complicated beyond rationalization, and even regretted. I respect Scotti and the filmmaker for this approach, but, ultimately, a film that wants to ask questions wouldn’t rest on a declaration like the quote above, or the idea that being a Marine is mostly about brotherhood (as if it’s not about any of the behaviors Marines engage in, good or bad). Again, that’s an unfair thing to ask of this film especially, but I do anyway, mostly because of the way it ends.












