Redacted

As a group of soldiers endures an extended deployment in Iraq, Salazar (Izzy Diaz) captures much of their stay on camera; McCoy (Rob Devaney) wishes to go home to his wife; Blix (Kel O’Neill) wants to be left alone; and Flake (Patrick Carroll) and Rush (Daniel Stewart Sherman) lose control and rape and murder a young Iraqi girl. Written and directed by Brian De Palma (“The Black Dahlia”), “Redacted” also shows scenes of the soldiers from the viewpoint of anti-American Iraqis.

Big question: With recent failures like "Rendition" and "Lions for Lambs" behind us, is "Redacted," based on true events and shot like a documentary, a more worthwhile topical tale?

Skip it: "Redacted" doesn't pick a point of view and isn't actually providing new information to a supposedly suppressed scandal. We're reminded that soldiers are never sure who's a threat—which makes protecting themselves and innocent civilians awfully difficult—but neither that idea, nor the presentation of a tight-knit band of brothers reluctant to rat out their own, feels like something that was ever hidden from the big screen or the front page.

Catch it: For some military smack talk like, "You're so white you wouldn't wear yourself after Labor Day.” Keep this in mind for your upcoming appearance on "Yo Momma."

Bottom line: Unless De Palma's trying to be ironic—and we're quite sure he's not—a fictionalized story likely isn't the best way to show how real-life truths are concealed from the public. "Redacted" is realistic and watchable, but don't expect to learn who's withholding the truth and how.

Bonus: The soldiers say that an extended deployment in Iraq is like "Clerks" character Dante complaining, "I'm not even supposed to be here today." That Kevin Smith sure is ahead of his time.

mpais@tribune.com

Add a comment