Last Flag Flying

Laurence Fishburne, Steve Carell, Bryan Cranston

"Their last Mission wasn't
on the Battlefield"

Yet another movie that deals with grief (yes I know, I like watching films with a lot of drama). Not too hysterical, subtle yet fraught with emotion-filled performances from its three lead stars, this Richard Linklater (Before Sunrise trilogy, Boyhood) movie explores grief and friendship.

2003, three ex-Marines reunite after 30 years to help one of them bury his son who was killed in the Iraq war. Despite never keeping in touch nor being updated on each others lives, the bond between them resumes during the long journey (road trip, train ride) to bring the remains to his hometown.

Veteran actors Bryan Cranston, Laurence Fishburne and Steve Carell portray their well developed characters, brilliantly. Each of them contributing their artistic skills to flesh out characters who are basically strangers to each other but their being Marines prevail and together they help each other out, reunited by a common denominator named grief. The three of them reminisce about their 'experiences' during the Vietnam war, painful and traumatic memories. Even as another war (the Iraq war) claims another fatality, Larry's (Steve Carell) son. 

This isn't a anti-war film nor does it justify the act of war, even though there is one specific scene which clearly show the lack of transparency vis a vis the cause of death of a soldier. This scene comes to mind as we see each of the three characters handling the said situation, differently. This is not to say which reaction was correct or who overreacted yet the way each of the characters essayed out this scene says a lot about the range of their acting talents. 

Therefore it is scenes like these, which is reminiscent of a Linklater narrative and makes for great viewing. Never mind if the film didn't do well in the box office or it isn't headed by a known actor, the story is poignant and sometimes in the grand scheme of things, it is enough.