Another Day in Paradise

Made with the full cooperation of the U.S. military, the beautifully filmed Another Day in Paradise simultaneously honors military service while expressing very candid reservations about war and the sacrifices required for military life. Produced by Mel Gibson's Icon production company, filmmaker Deborah Dickson's documentary is an off-shoot from Carrier, a 10-part PBS documentary series that chronicled life aboard the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Nimitz. While that series was broader in scope, the ironically titled Another Day in Paradise offers a more intimately focused portrait of three sailors aboard the Nimitz for a six-month deployment to the Persian Gulf. Being away from their families takes its toll on fighter pilot Lt. Doug Booher, Sergeant Randy Brock (a young father-to-be whose son is born while he's away), and ordnanceman Chris Altice (who learns that his girlfriend is pregnant while he's still in the process of mapping out his future). The film (which looks particularly stunning in the Blu-ray version) interweaves these personal histories with scenes illustrating the rhythms and responsibilities of daily life on an aircraft carrier, combining gung-ho Top Gun machismo with a clear-eyed acknowledgment that carrier service involves a lot of dull, repetitive routine. In this atmosphere of regimented discipline, the appeal and romance of military service shines through, along with the psychological anguish of familial separation, personal sacrifice, and the uncertainty of potential battles. Paradoxically, by presenting the downsides of military service while also honoring its timeless appeal, Another Day in Paradise may be the most honest recruitment film ever made, even if that was surely not its intention. Recommended. Aud: P. (J. Shannon)