A touching and heartfelt tribute to a real life hero who gave his life to save others.
This is a story about heroism at its highest order and how much the selfless acts of one person can affect the lives of so many. This is a powerful message and it is told powerfully here. I love the way this story is told. Rather than taking place in the Vietnam War when the act of heroism took place, it takes place in 1999 when men who fought along side this great hero, trying to get him a posthumous medal of honor. It is incredible that men worked so hard over 30 years later to get this man the recognition he deserved and that immediately gets our attention and respect. The more we learn the more respect we have. Though this is technically a war movie, it is neither pro-war nor anti-war. The story instead delves into what would make a man who has so much be willing to put himself in harms way to save lives of people he never met. This is a question met with aa lot of heartfelt sincerity and respect. There is no doubt that writer and director Todd Robinson is completely in awe of the heroism of William H. Pitsenbarger and this respect can be felt throughout the whole movie and this is what truly makes this film special.
This movie also benefits from a fantastic cast. There are some veteran actors in the cast that prove they are still at the top of their game. These include William Hurt, Christopher Plummer, Diane Ladd, Samuel Jackson, Ed Harris and the late Peter Fonda. Each one is fantastic here giving heartfelt and moving performances. Sebastian Stan is also fantastic as the cynical man who at first believes that the men trying to get their friend this medal of honor have an agenda, but learns why this is so important to them over the course of this film.
This is a fantastic movie that truly tugs at your emotions and be thankful for men like William H. Pitsenbarger.
-Michael J. Ruhland
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