War Machine (film) explained

War Machine
Director:	David Michôd
Cinematography:	Dariusz Wolski
Editing:	Peter Sciberras
Distributor:	Netflix
Runtime:	122 minutes
Country:	United States
Language:	English
Budget:	$60 million

War Machine is a 2017 American satirical war comedy film written and directed by David Michôd and starring Brad Pitt, Anthony Michael Hall, Anthony Hayes, Topher Grace, Will Poulter, Tilda Swinton, and Ben Kingsley. Based on the nonfiction book The Operators: The Wild and Terrifying Inside Story of America's War in Afghanistan by Michael Hastings, it is a fictionalized version of the events in the book based on United States Army General Stanley McChrystal.^[1]

The film was released on Netflix on May 26, 2017.

Plot

In the summer of 2009, four-star General Glen McMahon, having won renown for his effective leadership in Iraq, is sent to Afghanistan to prepare a strategic assessment so that the government can end the ongoing war.^{[2] [3]} He is given wide latitude to write it, on the sole condition that he not request more troops.

McMahon and his staff, particularly his right hand man Major General Greg Pulver, are united in their belief that the war can be won, and decide to recommend that President Obama authorize a surge of 40,000 additional troops to secure Helmand province in order to stabilize the country. However, the Secretary of State informs McMahon that, because he requested more troops, and such a surge is incompatible with upcoming elections, McMahon's report will not be reviewed until after Afghanistan's presidential election.

Captain Badi Basim, a member of the Afghan National Army, joins McMahon's staff as a "representative" of the Afghan people. He arrives in civilian clothes as he does not wish to wear his uniform, which he has in a bag, because of the risk of being killed. Meanwhile, McMahon is informed that due to massive voter fraud in the recent election, a runoff election will have to be held, further delaying the review of the assessment. Fed up, McMahon secretly leaks the assessment to The Washington Post and organizes an interview with 60 Minutes, during which he reveals that, in the last 70 days he has only been granted one meeting with President Obama.

In response, Obama announces that he will send 30,000 troops to Afghanistan, but that all U.S. and coalition forces in the country will leave in 18 months, infuriating McMahon and his staff for telegraphing America's Afghan strategy to the Taliban in Afghanistan. To gather the remaining 10,000 troops needed for his strategy to work, McMahon and his men head to Paris to negotiate with the other coalition nations.

In Paris, McMahon learns that the President is in Denmark and wishes to meet with him. The ambassador to Afghanistan warns McMahon that he needs to understand President Obama's position: if McMahon continues to anger the President, he will be fired for insubordination. The President, however, merely shakes McMahon's hand as he climbs aboard Air Force One, supposedly due to time constraints. McMahon and his staff attend a dinner in McMahon's honor, accompanied by Rolling Stone writer Sean Cullen, who intends to write a feature story about his performance for an upcoming issue. The next day, during their wedding anniversary dinner, McMahon's wife Jeanie confronts him about how much time he's been spending fighting abroad instead of being with his family back home.

While en route to Berlin with McMahon's staff to continue negotiations, Cullen observes their behavior when "out of country" and concludes that they are arrogant, seem to care little about the growing public perception that the war is costly and unwinnable, and hold civilian leadership in contempt. At a conference to discuss his strategy, McMahon is confronted by a German official who criticizes the war and McMahon's strategy. Nevertheless, both the Germans and the French agree to furnish the troops needed for McMahon's planned offensive, codenamed "Operation Moshtarak", to proceed, with Afghan President Hamid Karzai's approval.

The operation launches, but soon runs into trouble when several civilians are accidentally killed. When McMahon holds a public meeting with locals to apologize for the incident and explain that the U.S. is fighting the war for the benefit of Afghans, the crowd grows hostile and a local community leader asks McMahon and his troops politely yet firmly to leave.

McMahon later learns that Cullen's article has been published, and realizes it paints a negative picture of him and his staff as openly speaking against the President and mishandling the war effort. The President calls McMahon to Washington. Knowing that he will be fired for his actions, McMahon returns to Washington and later takes a job as a civilian consultant.

In the aftermath, Cullen ponders the consequences of his article, noting that he wished McMahon's fall would finally convince the government to stop invading foreign countries and end the war in Afghanistan. Instead the government simply assigns a new general to replace McMahon.

Cast

McMahon's Entourage

• Brad Pitt as General Glen McMahon,^[4] a character based on General Stanley McChrystal. He is portrayed as an accomplished general with degrees from West Point and Yale University,^[5] brought in to bring a resolution to the conflict in Afghanistan.
• Anthony Hayes as Lieutenant Commander Pete Duckman, a Navy SEAL and member of McMahon's staff
• Emory Cohen as Sergeant Willy Dunne, General McMahon's body man
• RJ Cyler as USAF Tech Sergeant Andy Moon, information technology support assistant
• Daniel Betts as USN Rear Admiral Simon Ball, McMahon's Senior Public Affairs Officer
• Topher Grace as Matt Little, a former lobbyist turned McMahon's civilian media adviser, based loosely on Duncan Boothby
• Anthony Michael Hall as Major General Greg Pulver, ISAF Director of Intelligence, loosely based on Lieutenant General Michael Flynn
• John Magaro as Colonel Cory Staggart, an Army Ranger and General McMahon's executive officer
• Aymen Hamdouchi as Captain Badi Basim, a scholarly Afghan National Army officer who becomes General McMahon's aide-de-camp
• Scoot McNairy as Sean Cullen, a cynical journalist for Rolling Stone who accompanies McMahon and his staff and acts as narrator throughout the film, loosely based on author Michael Hastings
• Meg Tilly as Jeanie McMahon, Glen McMahon's wife

U.S. Diplomats

• Sian Thomas as United States Secretary of State Edith May, based on Hillary Rodham Clinton
• Alan Ruck as Lieutenant General Pat McKinnon, United States Ambassador to Afghanistan, loosely based on Lieutenant General Karl Eikenberry
• Nicholas Jones as Dick Waddle, loosely based on Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke
• Griffin Dunne as Ray Canucci, a United States Department of State senior official

Politicians

• Ben Kingsley as President Hamid Karzai^[6]
• Reggie Brown as President Barack Obama
• Tilda Swinton as a German politician

Combat Marines

• Will Poulter as Sergeant Ricky Ortega, a Marine Corps infantry squad leader
• LaKeith Stanfield as Corporal Billy Cole, a disillusioned Marine and member of Ortega's squad.
• Josh Stewart as Captain Dick North, a Marine Corps officer

Other cast members

• Rufus Wright as British Army Lieutenant Colonel Frank Groom
• Georgina Rylance as Lydia Cunningham, 60 Minutes journalist
• Russell Crowe^[7] as General Bob White (uncredited), General Glen McMahon's replacement, similar to David Petraeus

Production

On April 27, 2012, it was announced that New Regency and Plan B Entertainment had acquired the film adaptation rights to the 2011 best seller non-fiction book The Operators by Michael Hastings.^[8] On April 14, 2014, David Michôd was hired to write and direct the film based on the war in Afghanistan.^[9] Brad Pitt was attached to star as General Stanley McChrystal and produce the film along with his Plan B partners Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner, while the film would be financed by New Regency and RatPac Entertainment. On June 8, 2015, Netflix acquired the distribution rights to the film which was re-titled War Machine, while Ian Bryce also came on board to produce the film along with others.^[10] On June 17, The Hollywood Reporter revealed that there had been a budget issue between New Regency and RatPac with producers of Plan B, and thus Netflix had stepped in to buy the distribution rights for $60 million.^[11]

On August 4, 2015, Emory Cohen was cast in the film to play a member of Gen. McChrystal's staff.^[12] On August 10, 2015, Topher Grace joined the film to play Gen. Stanley McChrystal's civilian press adviser.^[13] On August 11, 2015, John Magaro signed on to play Cory Burger, a special ops soldier and close advisor to General McMahon.^[14] On August 14, 2015, Scoot McNairy joined the cast of the film.^[15] On August 19, 2015, Anthony Michael Hall was added to the cast to play General Hank Pulver, loosely based on General Mike Flynn.^[16] On August 20, 2015, LaKeith Stanfield signed on to the film.^[17] The same day, Will Poulter also joined the cast for an unspecified role.^[18] On August 25, Anthony Hayes joined the film.^[19] On October 23, 2015, TheWrap revealed that RJ Cyler had also joined the film.^[20]

Filming

Principal photography on the film began in mid-October 2015 in London.^{[21] [22]} Later on October 19, filming began in Abu Dhabi; the city was transformed into Kabul, streets into a military fortress, an old building as an American Embassy in Kabul, and a street as a Palestinian border crossing.^{[23] [24]} Filming also took place at the Abu Dhabi International Airport in November. In mid-November 2015, while final scenes were being shot, actors were spotted filming in Ras al-Khaimah and the city's old neighborhood was transformed into Pakistani villages and a military base-camp.^[25] The film’s final scene filmed in Sydney Airport’s International Terminal arrival hall, is a cameo appearance by Russel Crowe, a Sydney resident, along with other Australian Dan Wyllie. The scene displays pitch black windows as it was filmed during the airports 11pm to 6am shutdown and curfew.

Release

The film was released on Netflix on May 26, 2017.^[26]

Marketing

Brad Pitt visited Mumbai to promote the film and attended a special screening at PVR High Street Phoenix on May 24, 2017.^[27] He also met Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan to promote War Machine.

Critical response

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 47% based on 97 reviews, and an average rating of 5.64/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "War Machines uneven execution keeps its fact-based story from cleanly hitting its targets, but those flaws are frequently offset by sharp wit and solid acting."^[28] On Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating, the film has a 56 out of 100 score, based on 30 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".^[29]

External links

• • • • The Operators by Michael Hastings at Google Books

Notes and References

1. News: McGinley. Michael. Brad Pitt Talks Divorce, Quitting Drinking, and Becoming a Better Man. May 6, 2017. GQ. May 3, 2017. Condé Nast. January 21, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190121100357/https://www.gq.com/story/brad-pitt-gq-style-cover-story. live.
2. Grow. Kory. See Brad Pitt Play Runaway General in 'War Machine' Trailer. April 6, 2017. Rolling Stone. March 30, 2017. April 6, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170406201704/http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/news/see-brad-pitt-play-runaway-general-in-war-machine-trailer-w474237. live.
3. News: Crothers. Jennifer. The trailer for Brad Pitt's Netflix film War Machine is here. The Daily Mirror. Mirror Group Newspapers. August 28, 2018. March 31, 2017. June 14, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180614200818/https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/full-trailer-brad-pitts-new-10129724. live.
4. Web site: EXCLUSIVE: Brad Pitt Looks Like a Ken Doll on the Set of Upcoming Netflix Drama 'War Machine' — See the Pics!. Zack. Seemayer. January 31, 2016. Entertainment Tonight. CBS Television Distribution. May 6, 2017. November 25, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201125172409/https://www.etonline.com/news/181296_brad_pitt_looks_like_a_ken_doll_on_the_set_of_upcoming_netflix_drama_war_machine. live.
5. Web site: Mancini. Vince. Brad Pitt And David Michôd's 'War Machine' Is An Absurd, Tragicomic Home Run. May 22, 2017. Film Drunk. Uproxx. August 28, 2018. August 29, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180829110210/https://uproxx.com/filmdrunk/war-machine-review-netflix/. live.
6. News: Ben Kingsley teaches Patricia Clarkson how to drive in new dramedy. Jim. Stolek. Toronto Sun. Postmedia Network. August 26, 2015. May 6, 2017. February 4, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160204222837/http://www.torontosun.com/2015/08/26/ben-kingsley-teaches-patricia-clarkson-how-to-drive-in-new-dramedy. live.
7. Web site: Taylor. Drew. Director David Michôd on Why Netflix's 'War Machine' Could Never Be Made at a Studio. Moviefone. MoviePass. May 26, 2017. May 26, 2017. May 27, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170527032151/https://www.moviefone.com/2017/05/26/director-david-michod-netflix-war-machine/. live.
8. News: Abrams. Rachel. New Regency, Plan B dial 'Operators'. October 22, 2015. Variety. Penske Business Media. April 27, 2012. March 2, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170302112009/http://variety.com/2012/film/news/new-regency-plan-b-dial-operators-1118053242/. live.
9. News: Fleming. Mike Jr.. New Regency Taps Brad Pitt, David Michod To Tell Gen. Stanley McChrystal Afghan Story 'The Operators'. October 22, 2015. Deadline Hollywood. Penske Business Media. April 14, 2014. October 30, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151030090124/http://deadline.com/2014/04/new-regency-taps-brad-pitt-david-michod-to-tell-gen-stanley-mcchrystal-afghan-story-the-operators-714407/. live.
10. News: Fleming. Mike Jr.. Game Changer! Netflix Lands 'War Machine', Brad Pitt's Next Star Vehicle. August 11, 2015. Deadline Hollywood. Penske Business Media. June 8, 2015. August 10, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150810001206/http://deadline.com/2015/06/netflix-brad-pitt-war-machine-general-stanley-mcchrystal-movie-1201439353/. live.
11. News: McClintock. Pamela. Whoa: Netflix Actually Paid $60M for Brad Pitt's Politically Charged Military Satire. October 22, 2015. The Hollywood Reporter. Prometheus Global Media. June 17, 2015. October 23, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151023025018/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/whoa-netflix-actually-paid-60m-802714. live.
12. News: A. Lincoln. Ross. Joey King Will Be 'Going In Style'; Emory Cohen Enlists In Netflix's 'War Machine'. August 21, 2015. Deadline Hollywood. Penske Business Media. August 4, 2015. August 7, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150807050620/https://deadline.com/2015/08/joey-king-going-in-style-zach-braff-emory-cohen-war-machine-netflix-1201491468/. live.
13. News: McNary. Dave. Topher Grace Joins Brad Pitt In Netflix Black Comedy 'War Machine'. August 11, 2015. Variety. Penske Business Media. August 10, 2015. August 13, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150813012425/http://variety.com/2015/digital/news/topher-grace-brad-pitt-war-machine-netflix-1201567045/. live.
14. News: A. Lincoln. Ross. John Magaro Joins 'War Machine'; Jason Fuchs Moves To 'La La Land'. August 16, 2015. Deadline Hollywood. Penske Business Media. August 11, 2015. October 14, 2015. https://archive.today/20151014024831/http://deadline.com/2015/08/jon-magaro-war-machine-jason-fuchs-la-la-land-1201497399/. live.
15. News: Fleming. Mike Jr.. Scoot McNairy Joins Brad Pitt In Netflix's 'War Machine'. August 16, 2015. Deadline Hollywood. Penske Business Media. August 14, 2015. August 15, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150815110946/https://deadline.com/2015/08/scoot-mcnairy-war-machine-brad-pitt-netflix-1201499523/. live.
16. News: Busch. Anita. Anthony Michael Hall Joins Brad Pitt In Netflix's 'War Machine'. August 20, 2015. Deadline Hollywood. Penske Business Media. August 19, 2015. September 23, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150923184354/https://deadline.com/2015/08/war-machine-movie-netflix-anthony-michael-hall-brad-pitt-1201501473/. live.
17. News: Sneider. Jeff. 'Straight Outta Compton's Keith Stanfield Joins Brad Pitt's Netflix Movie 'War Machine' (Exclusive). August 21, 2015. TheWrap. August 20, 2015. August 22, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150822030413/http://www.thewrap.com/straight-outta-comptons-keith-stanfield-joins-brad-pitts-netflix-movie-war-machine-exclusive/. live.
18. News: McNary. Dave. Will Poulter Joins Brad Pitt in Netflix's 'War Machine'. August 21, 2015. Variety. Penske Business Media. August 20, 2015. November 16, 2023. https://archive.today/20231116081527/https://variety.com/2015/film/news/war-machine-will-poulter-brad-pitt-netflix-movie-1201574697/. live.
19. News: Kroll. Justin. 'Animal Kingdom' Actor Anthony Hayes Joins 'War Machine' With Brad Pitt (EXCLUSIVE). October 22, 2015. Variety. Penske Business Media. August 25, 2015. November 16, 2023. https://archive.today/20231116081539/https://variety.com/2015/film/news/animal-kingdom-actor-anthony-hayes-joins-war-machine-with-brad-pitt-exclusive-1201578065/. live.
20. News: Sneider. Jeff. 'Power Rangers' Movie Adds 'Me and Earl and the Dying Girl' Star RJ Cyler as Blue Ranger. November 17, 2015. TheWrap. October 23, 2015. November 26, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201126164148/https://www.thewrap.com/power-rangers-movie-adds-me-and-earl-and-the-dying-girl-star-rj-cyler-as-blue-ranger/. live.
21. News: FOX-Leonard. Boudicca. Brad Pitt looks GREY-t as silver fox on London set of new film War Machine. October 22, 2015. Daily Mirror. Mirror Group Newspapers. October 17, 2015. October 20, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151020013404/http://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/brad-pitt-looks-grey-silver-6651713. live.
22. News: Brad Pitt Is the Ultimate Silver Fox on the Set of War Machine (Move Over, Clooney!). Rose. Walano. American Media. Us Weekly. August 28, 2018. October 19, 2015. November 29, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201129170940/https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/brad-pitt-gray-hair-london-set-war-machine-photos-20151910/. live.
23. News: Sheridan. Wade. Brad Pitt's Netflix original movie 'War Machine' to start production in Abu Dhabi. United Press International. August 28, 2018. October 15, 2015. November 24, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201124103144/https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/Movies/2015/10/15/Brad-Pitts-Netflix-original-movie-War-Machine-to-start-production-in-Abu-Dhabi/8191444931397/. live.
24. News: Quiet Abu Dhabi street transforms into War Machine film set. Arts Life. October 22, 2015. The National. October 21, 2015. September 12, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160912214627/http://www.thenational.ae/arts-lifestyle/film/quiet-abu-dhabi-street-transforms-into-war-machine-film-set. live.
25. News: RAK becomes celebrity zone as Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie fly down to the emirate. Arts Life. November 17, 2015. The National. November 14, 2015. August 30, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160830074325/http://www.thenational.ae/arts-life/film/20151114/rak-becomes-celebrity-zone-as-brad-pitt-and-angelina-jolie-fly-down-to-the-emirate. live.
26. Web site: Brad Pitt prepares for battle in Netflix's 'War Machine' trailer. Richard. Trenholm. March 1, 2017. CBS Interactive. CNET. August 28, 2018. November 29, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201129050134/https://www.cnet.com/news/brad-pitt-goes-to-war-in-netflix-war-machine-trailer-david-michod/. live.
27. News: Brad Pitt is in Mumbai to attend War Machine screening, to meet Shah Rukh Khan. The Indian Express. Komal RJ. Panchal. May 25, 2017. May 24, 2017. May 24, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170524093836/http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/hollywood/brad-pitt-coming-to-india-to-promote-war-machine-4671312/. live.
28. Web site: War Machine (2017) . . . October 19, 2022 . November 12, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201112025451/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/war_machine_2016 . live .
29. Web site: War Machine Reviews. CBS Interactive. Metacritic. August 15, 2017. October 16, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181016030700/https://www.metacritic.com/movie/war-machine. live.