Yet another entry in the seemingly endless wave of documentaries surrounding the occupation of Iraq, The War Tapes is the brainchild of filmmaker Deborah Scranton, who handed video cameras to members of the New Hampshire National Guard stationed in Iraq, with instructions to make their own video diaries, which she then later edited into a cohesive film. The focus is on a trio of service members: 24-year-old carpenter Sgt. Steve Pink, 24-year-old Lebanese immigrant Sgt. Zach Bazzi, and 34-year-old family guy Spc. Mike Moriarty. To its credit, the film offers a unique first-person account of the frontline combat, complete with intense enemy encounters and tragic accidents involving innocent civilian bystanders (including an Iraqi woman being fatally hit by a National Guard humvee). Scranton lucked out in that her three novice video diarists are articulate, though Bazzi (due to his Arab-American perspective) seems to be the only one with anything truly interesting to say (Moriarty quickly becomes a gung-ho bore and Pink often seems to be hamming for the camera). Oddly, the strength of this DVD release lies in 100 minutes of bonus material, particularly the deleted scenes (which provide an idea of how Scranton framed this endeavor) and follow-up interviews with the three men after they returned home. Although manipulative at times, The War Tapes—shortlisted for an Oscar nomination—is recommended. Aud: C, P. (P. Hall)
The War Tapes
(2006) 97 min. DVD: $26.95. Docurama (avail. from most distributors). ISBN: 0-7670-9540-5. Volume 22, Issue 4
The War Tapes
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