Review of Route Irish (2011) by Marty D — 04 Oct 2011
Filled with anger and rage, Route Irish is a realistic, emotionally gripping art house drama which, despite its over-the-top dramatic moments, succeeds in revealing the ugly face of war-reality.
Focused not on the war itself, but on what the war creates in terms of attitude, vulgarity towards life and the human beings, Route Irish is not only a tense detective story but a realistic depiction of the "contracted soldiers" and their lives. The detective story in which an ex-contractor tries to find out the truth about his friend's death is central in Ken Loach's movie, but the story is only a tool to unfold one more ugly side of the war on terror.
On the negative side, the main vehicle of the movie (the detective story) loses its grip on the audience with its predictability and growing dramatic moments. Its tragic final could have been much more powerful if the last minutes had not been so painfully melodramatic.
Route Irish is a very angry and well made movie, which unfortunately loses part of its steam and rage towards the end. Still it remains one of hte better war-related art house dramas.
This review of Route Irish (2011) was written by Marty D on 04 Oct 2011.
Route Irish has generally received mixed reviews.
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