Warfare (2025) review

Several American soldiers - including Erik (Will Poulter), Elliott (Cosmo Jarvis), McDonald (Michael Gandolfini), Sam (Joseph Quinn) and Tommy (Kit Connor) - are in a house in Ramadi, Iraq keeping close watch on a neighboring building for insurgents when they suddenly come under heavy fire, Sam and Elliott are severely wounded by an improvised explosive device (IED) and they require backup reinforcements.  Co-writer/director Mendoza, who was a Navy SEAL during the Occupation of Iraq and based this on his actual experiences, adds a great deal of credibility (he also put the cast through a lot of training) ... except the movie, which is a slickly-shot ninety-minute "recreation" of the conflict, tries to be "apolitical" for a situation that was anything but: the invasion itself was illegal and it treats the non-violent Iraqis (who are stuffed into a room) and even the helpful translators as if they're not relevant as people.  The closing credits show the real Elliott Miller confined to a wheelchair and having chuckles with the actors and old friends, but without doing some extra research, most viewers in the future will probably be baffled by it due to a complete lack of context.