An Act of War (2015)

One of my all time favorites.

Excellent but underrated film

Unshakable, witty and deeply felt, the film will be paying emotional dividends for a long, long time.

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

This movie is not worth watching. I am very disappointed with the reviews and ratings on here that led me to waste my time watching it. I would say that Russo's performance was above average. Directing was good. Problem is that the movie had no real story. The twist at the end made the entire story line nonexistent. Also, the ending with the brother and police did not make sense. The movie was painfully slow, I suppose for artistic sake, but it just dragged out the story that wasn't there. I read other reviewer's remarks that this portrayed PTSD in soldiers. It doesn't effectively do so. As the action of the movie is negated by the ending. Was it PTSD? Was it schizophrenia? Was it something else? We don't really know by the little bits and pieces we are offered, and by the lack of any true diagnosis in the movie.

"An act of war" is the story of a veteran of the military that - after knowing the atrocities of war - comes back home, but unfortunately he can't lead a normal life because of the post-traumatic stress. Violence and loneliness will continue to haunt him despite he attempts to adapt to normal. It is a realistic view of what happens to many soldiers returning from war, of what remains after the honors and prestige: they cannot return to live as ordinary people, because they will bring back for ever the memory and the trauma of having fought and having seen the deaths of their comrades. From now he won't live peacefully, because he has only a sense of self-destruction.

I did not know what to expect before watching this film. I was pleasantly surprised at finding this "gem" of a film. It is beautifully shot and composed. Hard to believe this was a "first effort" by writer/director Ryan Kennedy - he takes you to the side of town where bottles, hearts and bodies get broken. Looking forward to what he does next.The cast, top to bottom, is excellent. The three leads, Russ Russo, Natasha Alam and Doug E. Doug give honest, nuanced performances. Watching Russo is painful and heart rending. He is brilliant and I believed everything about him. I look forward to seeing more from this "new" actor. Ms.Alam is tragic in her portrayal of Ivana - her emotion truthful and raw. Doug E. Doug is equally good, bringing a quirky, broken, surprisingly sympathetic character to life. He is almost childlike.There are other noteworthy performances to mention. Robert Miano as "Sully," is natural and easy. Nothing "actory" about his performance. I have seen his work before and he is a craftsman.The opening sequence of the film draws you in. The actor playing Lt. Sullivan, Chris LaPanta, is another actor I have never heard of - He is measured, controlled, believable and real. His performance is subtle and nuanced. You feel his fatigue and empathy.My only criticism is that the film is a bit long/slow in spots. That said, I will add this film to my list of films i will watch again to find new and interesting moments and gladly recommend. Well done.

This film will have you on the edge of your seat the whole time. The cinematography and all encompassing plot is truly a work of art. It not only is a thriller but also shows you the true struggles of post military civilian life. This shows the true horrors that the bravest and strongest men have to deal with. This is a sad but true situation. A must see for all citizens. May the men that give it all, be given some relief when they come home. Let this film change the world and bring peace to all. Let this show all that the price of war is not just death, but also destruction. May God bless all and show favor on the world.