Home of the Brave (2006)

23% of critics liked it
(57 reviews)
51% of users liked it
(21,657 ratings)

This powerful film tells the story of four American soldiers nearing the end of their tours of duty in Iraq. Shortly after learning their unit will soon return home, they are sent on one final humanitarian mission and the unit is ambushed. With many lives lost, the surviving troops suffer both… More This powerful film tells the story of four American soldiers nearing the end of their tours of duty in Iraq. Shortly after learning their unit will soon return home, they are sent on one final humanitarian mission and the unit is ambushed. With many lives lost, the surviving troops suffer both physical and psychological injuries. Now, as they return to the United States, four soldiers must face memories of the past as they look towards the future and return to civilian life.

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 45 min.
Directed By: Irwin Winkler
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure

In Theaters: Dec 15, 2006 Wide
On DVD: Oct 23, 2007
Studio: MGM

Critic Reviews

John Anderson, Variety
Obvious, plodding, cloying and politically innocuous.
Stephen Hunter, Washington Post
I must say the best thing about the movie is that it's interested in the soldiers, not the self-serving popinjays who seem to think the war is a big fat career-enhancing photo opportunity. The people who got shot at deserve most of the attention.
Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper
This is a solid and timely piece of work from Hollywood veteran Irwin Winkler.
Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger
The intentions are good. The actors have been assembled with care, and the production is polished. But everything feels assembled, as if it were put together from blueprints.
Stephen Holden, New York Times
The kindest description of Home of the Brave, the first Hollywood movie to examine the experience of American soldiers returning from Iraq, might be that it is fueled by noble intentions.
Lou Lumenick, New York Post
[It] gets points for being the first movie to depict Iraq war veterans adjusting to civilian life. It loses points for being a painfully earnest and very thinly conceived update of The Best Years of Our Lives and Coming Home.
Cynthia Fuchs, Common Sense Media
Iraq war vets cope with big issues; not for kids.
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com
The war in Iraq gets a lathery soft soap treatment in producer-cum-director Irwin Winkler's distortion of emotions and realities associated with a group of returning soldiers.
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...there's certainly no denying the effectiveness of one unintentionally hilarious moment in which Biel's spurned boyfriend exclaims, "I guess it only takes one hand to push people away!"
James Plath, Movie Metropolis
Winkler unfortunately doesn't handle the domestic conflicts with the same believability as he does those combat scenes.
Kam Williams, Mount Desert Islander
Patriotic claptrap masquerading as a touchy-feely salute to the troops.
Kevin Carr, 7M Pictures
While the film tries to be sensitive to the people's plight, it does itself (and the soldiers) a disservice by presenting them as brittle, emotionally fragile victims.
Prairie Miller, Flicks.com
Missed opportunity for some cutting irony on behalf of indigenous people who have always been the victims in one way or another, of dubious celebrations like Thanksgiving, the laborers are instead merely a dramatic device - wallpaper really.
Prairie Miller, WBAI Radio
Missed opportunity for some cutting irony on behalf of indigenous people who have always been the victims in one way or another, of dubious celebrations like Thanksgiving, the laborers are instead merely a dramatic device - wallpaper really.
Brian Webster, Apollo Guide
The disc includes a full-length audio commentary by producer/ director Irwin Winkler, along with writer Mark Friedman and producer Rob Cowan.
Brian Webster, Apollo Guide
Shows some significant strengths but ultimately misses the mark due to incompletely developed characters and hesitation to hit home as hard as the subject matter justifies.
Phil Villarreal, Arizona Daily Star
This is morose, head-shaking stuff, and director Irwin Winkler (Life as a House, De-Lovely) isn't one to ease up on the 'ol emotional manipulation button.
Rob Thomas, Capital Times (Madison, WI)
It often undercuts its nobler goals by resorting to hammy dialogue and unnecessarily melodramatic contrivances.
Willie Waffle, WaffleMovies.com
a clunky movie lacking subtlety, and full of bad dialogue that tries too hard to get its point across.

Read all 19 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Derek A

This is not a war movie... it's a movie about war. Home of the Brave has been the best movie to date on the psychological effects our soldiers endure when they return home from Iraq. It's riveting to see the demons they face. Truly inspirational... And don't worry… More
This is not a war movie... it's a movie about war. Home of the Brave has been the best movie to date on the psychological effects our soldiers endure when they return home from Iraq. It's riveting to see the demons they face. Truly inspirational... And don't worry about propaganda because it's neither Pro nor Anti War, the film does a great job of remaining completely neutral. This film boasts an A list cast with Samuel L. Jackson, Jessica Biel, Christina Ricci, Chad Michael Murray, Brian Presley, and 50 Cent, who was surprisingly impressive in this action drama. Don't be fooled, if you're looking for a movie chalk full of dead bodies, blood, and missing limbs, then this is not for you. The first 20 minutes is intense however (think Black Hawk Down), but the remainder of the movie is deep and touching.
Lorenzo v

Okay plain and simple, this movie is definitely similar to the film "Raising Flagg." Average, boring, random plot line, yet it contained some strong cast members who pretty much saved this film from being a disaster. So why is this movie such a disaster, you may ask? Plain… More
Okay plain and simple, this movie is definitely similar to the film "Raising Flagg." Average, boring, random plot line, yet it contained some strong cast members who pretty much saved this film from being a disaster. So why is this movie such a disaster, you may ask? Plain and simple. It's a boring script which was probably written without any heart, considering how hollow the lines seemed to be. Nothing seemed to work with the scenes no matter who was in it. However some of the cast saved it from totally failing itself. If there were only minor actors who have had no previous experience it would have been pathetic. <b>2.5/5</b>
Bobby H

I thought this was a great movie. I dont know how people thought it was a flop - it shows a side of the war that many movies are afraid to tackle, the aftermath. The movie takes an emotional ride through being there, leaving there, and surviving afterwords. It's done well and… More
I thought this was a great movie. I dont know how people thought it was a flop - it shows a side of the war that many movies are afraid to tackle, the aftermath. The movie takes an emotional ride through being there, leaving there, and surviving afterwords. It's done well and does justice for those who served and are dealing with hardships still today. It was a great cast and a great movie.
Brian D

Good film.On the lines of the deer hunter but with the war focus on Iraq and with the dealing of today. Fine performance all round, Jessica Biel prove she more than a pretty face with Sam Jackson doing a fine job.All in all a good film with a bit of through.
Nani V

I didn't like the acting. It was kind of depressing, but, had some funny scenes, not sure if they were intended.
Emile T

The first 45 minutes were pretty good, and Jesscica Biel's character was interesting. The rest was badly written. I still thought it was a LITTLE bit realistic, for my dad himself went in Afghanistan for six months... Could have been A LOT better
William G

Politically level, yet bland and overwrought Iraqi vet drama.
Sarah P

I felt this movie could have had something...more. I think it is a good story to tell but I just couldn't connect to it. The performances were lacking.
Chosen 7

Decent drama.
Leo L

An interesting movie!!
monty h

Unflinching drama about a group of soldiers returning home from the Iraq War and trying to get on with their lives. Starts off with a gripping battle scene, then settles down into a strong dramatic piece. Tends to get a little too much at times but still is compelling stuff. A strong… More
Unflinching drama about a group of soldiers returning home from the Iraq War and trying to get on with their lives. Starts off with a gripping battle scene, then settles down into a strong dramatic piece. Tends to get a little too much at times but still is compelling stuff. A strong cast featuring Samuel L. Jackson, Brian Presley, Chad Michael Murray, and a suprisingly good turn by Jessica Biel, who shows she is more than a pretty face. <div style="width:400px;"><a href="http://www.flixster.com/servlet/embed/photo/link/4050762"><img src="http://www.flixster.com/servlet/embed/photo/4050762.jpg" border="0"/></a><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10px;"><a href="http://www.flixster.com">Flixster</a> - Share Movies</div></div>
Kyle S

This film is about the American soldiers over in Iraq, how the war scarred them both physically, mentally, and emotionaly, and how they deal with it when they come back home. Great performances by Samuel L. Jackson, Jessica Biel, and Curtis Jackson a.k.a. 50 Cent. I think Brian… More
This film is about the American soldiers over in Iraq, how the war scarred them both physically, mentally, and emotionaly, and how they deal with it when they come back home. Great performances by Samuel L. Jackson, Jessica Biel, and Curtis Jackson a.k.a. 50 Cent. I think Brian Presley had the best acting in the whole film, and it is really his first mainstream movie. Chad Michael Murray and Christina Ricci have very small roles, allthough Murray's character is very important in the film. Great directing by Irwin Winkler. Very sad movie, but it is tied up nicely at the end, by the three remaining main characters telling their different stories about what happened to them in Iraq.