When was the last time that three, count 'em, three war movies, set during three different wars, played town in the same week? First, thee's World War I as depicted in 1917, followed by World War II and Quezon's Game, and now the true-life story of Vietnam vet, Airman William “Pits” Pitsenbarger. A hot shot Pentagon worker (Sebastian Stan) gets in the line of fire of a persistent Vietnam vet (William Hurt) who, after 34 years of trying, has yet to persuade the government to award a posthumous Medal of Honor to the gallant pararescuemen who saved the lives of 60 soldiers. It’s through the eyewitness testimony of the survivors that we get to know Pitsenbarger (Jeremy Irvine). Writer-director Todd Robinson wisely stacks his deck of persevering comrades with a cast of celluloid bluebloods. Joining Hurt are Christopher Plummer, Samuel L. Jackson, Ed Harris, Amy Madigan, John Savage, and Peter Fonda, signing off in style with this, his last performance. The only star who doesn’t get to shine is Diane Ladd. Alas, war movies are hell on female characters. Not bad for a regulation military movie, but I must confess to a wandering attention span; how else could I notice the cigarette that Jackson removes from the pack of Marlboros is an American Spirit? (2019) — Scott Marks
This movie is not currently in theaters.