Review
ARMY OF ONE
Featuring Thaddeus Ressler, Sara Miller and Nelson Reyes
Directed by Sarah Goodman
Wednesday, April 28
Room 162 Murray Fraser Hall (U of C)
Given the seemingly unparalleled strength of the U.S. military and their history of uninhibited aggression, a behind-the-scenes examination of the U.S. army’s foot soldiers would not only appear to be a valid, but also necessary bit of documentary filmmaking. While Army of One tries valiantly to critique the military machine south of the border, the questions that the film evokes prove more interesting than the film itself.
Focusing on three new recruits, director Sarah Goodman follows these diverse personalities as they decide to serve their country in the wake of 9/11. Thaddeus Ressler, a stockbroker from Chicago, feels it’s his duty. Sara Miller, a dance major, is biding time to figure out what she wants to do with her life. Nelson Reyes views the army as his way out of the Bronx and a way to earn some much-needed respect. As these three enter basic training, they discover that their expectations may not be realized.
Army of One intercuts between the subjects, peppering the narrative with information on the large-scale military offensives in Iraq and Afghanistan taken on by the U.S. As time passes, Miller becomes more entrenched in military living, Ressler feels underused and Reyes goes AWOL – not one of them seeing active duty in the first two years of their service. What this film does very well is showcase the personality changes of the individual, brought on solely by their enlistment.
Most frightening is Ressler’s transformation – he develops depression verging on suicidal. His increasing use of alcohol as an escape from his everyday existence at a stateside army base is heartbreaking, but also doesn’t seem far from the norm for the other soldiers in his platoon.
In this respect, Army of One can be viewed as a brutal criticism of the U.S. military. Fuelled by boredom and alcoholism, the ranks are populated with soldiers who don’t know or don’t care what they are doing. Goodman has created a subdued counterpoint to the many military dramas that film audiences have grown accustomed to over the years. Unfortunately the delivery is so low-key it verges on indifferent. The film unfolds with a relatively objective eye and from a certain standpoint that should be admired. However, the resulting film is dry and lacks the emotion necessary to engage viewers. Had Army of One been more focused it could have been brilliant. Instead it’s merely a good documentary whose ideas get lost in the delivery. |
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