Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk ** (2016, Joe Alwyn, Garrett Hedlund, Arturo Castro, Vin Diesel, Kristen Stewart, Chris Tucker, Steve Martin) – Movie Review

Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk is a likeable, well-meaning and honourable movie. But, meticulously made and interesting though it is, it must count as a talky semi-failure of a film from Ang Lee, his first movie since Life of Pi (2012). Jean-Christophe Castelli’s screenplay is based on the widely-acclaimed, bestselling novel by Ben Fountain. You can see how it might well make a good novel.

Newcomer English boy Joe Alwyn (aged 25) largely overcomes his odd casting in the all-American role of 19-year-old Billy Lynn, the Iraq battle Bravo Squad hero. Alwyn is rather good, and appealing, in an understated performance. But Garrett Hedlund gives the best, most convincing performance as his US army squad boss, Dime, bringing authority and credibility.

After bravely engaging the enemy at close range, the Bravo Squad are being brought home temporarily for a victory tour to parade in front of the media and American public like tamed wild animals before being shipped off back to possible injury and death in the war zone. I thought of King Kong being dragged back to America to be put on stage as a show exhibit. As the film contrasts the harsh realities of war in flashbacks with the glib perceptions of it by the American public and media, there is something vaguely unpleasant about all this that Ang Lee tries to grapple with but seems to gloss over.

The film relentlessly heads for an inevitable heroic, gung-ho, patriotic conclusion that is as disappointing as it is predictable. It the only possible conclusion, given Billy Lynn’s celebrated bravery in his first tour of duty, though Ang Lee tries to encourage some pointless suspense over the ending. Will he give in and accept his sister’s ride back to the safety of living in the US of A again? The answer should bring a surge of emotion but it just comes over as, ‘yes, I know’.

Giving out some mixed messages – it is basically anti-war and pro-war at the same time – the film feels very old-fashioned and even out-dated. This feeling is accentuated by awkward guest star turns from Vin Diesel as the crew’s dead sergeant Shroom, Kristen Stewart as Billy’s anti-war sister Kathryn, a virtually unrecognisable Chris Tucker as media broker Albert, and Steve Martin as Norm, the football team owner and movie backer for their war bravery story. None of these players are seen at their best, though they are OK.

The film has its obvious sincerity and some well-staged, powerfully dramatic moments on its side, but it is easy to get bored and restless in the cinema watching it. The flashback battle scenes are exciting and vibrant, but all too brief, and will frustrate those seeking battle movie action, as in Mel Gibson’s Hacksaw Ridge, which has more popular appeal, while remaining serious minded.

Nevertheless, the subtleties, complexities and quiet statements you can find in Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk are hugely preferable to Gibson’s head-banging messages in  Hacksaw Ridge.

Of course ‘semi-failure of a film from Ang Lee’ also means ‘semi-success of a film from Ang Lee’. It is worth seeing and I’m glad I saw it.

© Derek Winnert 2017 Movie Review

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