Review of Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk (2016) by Calvin C — 20 Nov 2016

Ang Lee's war drama is about a young soldier who returns home to hero's welcome in Dallas. The entire movie takes place during a football game with flashbacks of Billy in Iraq and with his family. Joe Alwyn in his first film is a good lead. But, it's Kristen Stewart and Garrett Hedlund who steal the show. Steve Martin, Vin Diesel and Chris Tucker make rare dramatic appearances as well. Parts of the movie were off and some of the performances were questionable. But, Lee hooks us with great emotion and the experience is more sobering than expected. The halftime sequence cut with a gun battle in Iraq is the highlight of the film. If you are able to see in the high frame rate Lee intended us to see it in, the scene is feels even more grand.

Grade: B.