'Lions and Lambs' provides a reflection on U.S. military action in the Middle East
By James Baggett
Robert Redford's "Lions for Lambs," opens tomorrow. The movie delves into issues related to the war in Afghanistan and the implications that events of the war have back at home in America.
Other recently released movies also involve issues surrounding current U.S. military activity, especially in Iraq and Afghanistan. "In the Valley of Elah," "Rendition," "Kingdom" and "Redacted" all have plots based on current U.S. conflict and military practices in the Middle East.
In light of the fact that these military engagements continue on in real life, questions arise regarding whether or not fictional stories based on the wars should be put on the big screen. To some, it may seem too soon to portray actions of these wars because their outcomes have yet to be decided. To others, movies about current events can be more entertaining than, say, a movie about World War II. Also, these movies often serve as commentaries on a specific viewpoint regarding the war.
For the sake of integrity, some think that a certain amount of discretion is necessary to oblige soldiers and their families when recreating these sensitive situations.
For example, it took five years before any movies about the events of Sept. 11, 2001, came out. "United 93" and "World Trade Center" both came out in 2006. Any earlier might have been considered inappropriate, and, to some, even this was too soon.
Others may believe that movies are a good medium to express opinions on the rationale, or lack thereof, behind these wars. This has certainly been done in the past - with the Vietnam War, for example. One famous movie, "A Yank in Viet-Nam" was released in 1964, in the midst of the conflict. It was filmed on location in Vietnam, and real U.S. and Vietnamese soldiers were used as extras.
Another movie, "To the Shores of Hell," was also released during the war, in 1968. This movie portrays a Marine officer on a mission to rescue his brother, a doctor incarcerated by the Viet-Cong.
But many of the notable films based on Vietnam, most of them critical of the conflict, such as "Apocalypse Now" (1979), "Platoon" (1986), "Full-Metal Jacket" (1987), even "Forrest Gump" (1994), did not come out until years after the last drafted soldier had left the jungle.
But times have changed. There have never been conflicts so well documented as are the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. There are numerous documentaries on the wars; news stations and newspapers cover stories from the Middle East daily. These conflicts are prevalent in everyday American society.
Even as war rages on the other side of the world - 2007 has been declared the deadliest year for American troops in Iraq - movies about this part of history have already found a place in our culture.
"Lions for Lambs" follows a college professor (Redford), two of his former students who decide to join the fight in Iraq, a reporter, played by Meryl Streep, and a senator with presidential aspirations, played by Tom Cruise. As the movie unfolds, the originally unconnected storylines begin to weave together, and everyone has something in common, it seems.
