Review of Man Down (2016) by Paul M — 08 Dec 2016

Extraordinary movie. Being a Viet Nam Vet myself, with a degree in Philosophy and Literature (not that that makes me an expert in anything, but at least I have an appreciation for the finer things in life), I was thoroughly captivated by this movie, and especially Shia's performance as a Vet experiencing PTSD, a condition that the average American with no military background has little or no understanding. All of the things that could cause a Vet to have difficulty are wrapped up in one scene: a tour of duty in a hostile country; away from wife and son; losing your best buddy in a fire fight; and simultaneously discovering that "best buddy" had an affair with your wife. It can't get any more difficult than that.

Many people will watch this and say that it's a hyper exaggeration of the PTSD syndrome. They say no one comes back this paranoid and disoriented. They are wrong. My brother also served in Nam under extremely difficult conditions, serving in the Iron Triangle with the 199th Infantry Brigade. It couldn't have been a tougher tour for him. His mind is still in Viet Nam. Just like Shia, he became a Paranoid Schizophrenic still rummaging thru the jungles of Viet Nam. This movie was amazing in the depiction of the pain and suffering these Vets go thru. I recommend that everyone interested in understanding a very difficult disease should make a point of seeing this movie.