The Recon

Bausch's book has been praised for its existential profundity on religious matters, but very little of that makes it to the screen.

If tension was the filmmakers' aim, they decisively miss - especially if it was meant to come from the puzzlingly casual sniper situation. Any possibility of buying into the story's reality is defused by the soldiers being so dang gabby, and loudly so.

Like many war movies that have their intended impacts, it is effective in reminding us of the sacrifices made by those who've served their nation.

Violent WWII drama makes existential plea against war.