From ‘American Sniper’ writer Jason Hall, ‘Thank You for Your Service’ impresses a grueling reflection of Iraq war veterans struggling with PTSD and their attempt to adjust to civilian life.
For a story of three soldiers returning home from war with the burdens of emotional trauma and survivors’ guilt, it’s hard to shake the feeling that Jason Hall’s directorial debut (based on the book by David Finkel) would be ripe with melodrama and patriotic clichés. Faced with the challenge of reintegrating into a society that doesn’t know what to do with them, a trio of brothers-in-arms (played by Miles Teller, Joe Cole and Beulah Koale) return to their respective partners hopeful. However, deteriorating mental health impacts their relationships as they detach from their loved ones who can only look helplessly on. This drives the men to recklessness and ultimately they seek psychological help, which is more difficult than first thought.
The movie opens with of montage of dog-tags and flashbacks to a combat scene in Iraq, accompanied by a solemn voiceover which, admittedly, fulfilled my initial expectations. However, Hall’s script is casually irreverent, balancing moments of wit and touching sentiment between lovers and comrades. Teller’s captivating performance as Sgt. Adam Schumann is carried out with poise, equally matched by rising star Koale’s character’s irate and deeply-tangled psychology. Their relationship is at times explosive, tense and touching, as the characters come to terms with their guilt and try to find their place in the world. All in all, it’s not an obvious triumph, but ripe with dramatic tension and moments of heart-warming camaraderie that left me engaged.
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By Rob Brown
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