Review of Only the Dead (2015) by Grant S — 17 Apr 2016
Fascinating, confronting, gritty documentary.
A documentary on the Iraq War of 2003 and its aftermath made by Australian journalist Michael Ware. Ware, a journalist with Time magazine, spent seven years in Iraq, from the 2003 invasion onwards. Only The Dead is a video compilation of his experiences in Iraq and, in particular, the rise of Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi, the radical terrorist leader. Through becoming acquainted with another insurgent group, Ware was provided with video material from that group as well as Al-Zarqawi's group.
Incredibly powerful footage, certainly not the kind of stuff you see on the news or in war films. Very real and confronting and some of the most accurate captures of war you'll ever see.
The history of Al-Zarqawi is quite interesting too, and Ware's rare, terrorist-provided, footage gives a searing insight into events involving him and life in Iraq at that time. On the negative side, Ware's fascination with Al-Zarqawi does border on reverence at times.
Another negative involves the last few scenes. Here Ware tries to make a philosophical point out of the war and its effects on people, soldiers especially, but misses the mark. His comments on the final scene are quite empty, idealistic and naive. Even more, they smack of him trying to create controversy out of US soldiers simply doing their jobs in a war zone.
That took the shine off what was otherwise an incredible movie.
This review of Only the Dead (2015) was written by Grant S on 17 Apr 2016.
Only the Dead has generally received very positive reviews.
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