Pop Culture Happy Hour: Deep Dive into "Warfare"
Episode Title: Warfare
Release Date: April 14, 2025
Hosts: Glenn Weldon, Netta Ulaby, Roxana Hadadi
Podcast: Pop Culture Happy Hour by NPR
Introduction to "Warfare"
In this episode, Pop Culture Happy Hour explores the newly released film "Warfare", a departure from conventional Hollywood war movies. Directed by Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland, the film strives for an unprecedented level of realism by reconstructing a specific conflict during the Iraq War based on the actual memories of a platoon of Navy SEALs.
Glenn Weldon introduces the film:
"The new film Warfare dispenses with a lot of things you've come to expect from Hollywood war movies. It attempts to capture the chaos of one specific conflict during the Iraq War accurately as possible and in real time."
— Glenn Weldon [00:00]
Roxana Hadadi’s Initial Reaction
Roxana Hadadi, Vulture TV critic, expresses skepticism about the film's claimed departure from traditional war movie tropes. She feels that despite its intentions, "Warfare" still adheres to familiar elements prevalent in the genre.
"I really just thought to myself, really, like, it just feels like a phenomenon of marketing that we are talking about this film in these terms... It did all of the stuff that I have become accustomed to these movies doing."
— Roxana Hadadi [03:50]
She criticizes the portrayal of Iraqi characters as underdeveloped and the repetitive nature of the soldiers' interactions, which mirror those seen in earlier films like "The Outpost."
Netta Ulaby’s Perspective
Netta Ulaby, NPR Culture Desk correspondent, shares a similar disappointment, highlighting the thin character development and lack of meaningful dialogue. She voices concerns about the film’s ability to resonate with veterans, despite their authentic experiences.
"The dialogue isn't that good. They just sit there and they look panicked and they run around every so often."
— Netta Ulaby [08:35]
Netta also points out the aesthetic choice of casting attractive actors, which she feels undermines the film's attempt to present an equalized and authentic portrayal of the platoon.
Glenn Weldon’s Critical Observations
Glenn Weldon offers a nuanced view, appreciating the film's intentional departure from emotional manipulation through scores and composite characters. He notes the film's adherence to factual accuracy over traditional narrative flow.
"It doesn't have a score to manipulate your emotions... It doesn't collapse or expand time for the sake of cleaner storytelling."
— Glenn Weldon [05:15]
Weldon emphasizes the filmmakers' goal to authentically reconstruct the chaotic realities of war without imposing typical Hollywood storytelling devices.
Exploring Filmmakers’ Intentions and Authenticity
The discussion deepens as Weldon references a Q&A session with director Ray Mendoza, revealing the film's dedication to accurately portraying events based on collective memories rather than individual narratives.
"This is reconstructed... We are trying to recapture this chaos, recapturing this event, not shaping it, not clarifying it, not distilling it."
— Glenn Weldon [09:13]
However, Roxana Hadadi challenges this notion, arguing that presenting a singular version of conflicting memories inherently shapes the narrative.
"If all the memories are conflicting but the film presents one version of the truth, I don't think that that conflict is built into the film at all."
— Roxana Hadadi [10:44]
Casting Choices and Character Interchangeability
Hadadi critiques the casting of well-known and attractive actors, suggesting that it detracts from the goal of portraying interchangeable soldiers, a hallmark of military units.
"This movie is cast with a series of Internet boyfriends... very attractive actors who the audience will probably like."
— Roxana Hadadi [07:24]
Netta concurs, noting that while the actors' presence brings familiarity, it may limit the film's ability to present a raw and unfiltered depiction of warfare.
"None of them have that much to do. The dialogue isn't that good... I still just didn't care."
— Netta Ulaby [08:35]
The Debate on Propaganda and War Films
The conversation shifts to the inherent propaganda elements within war films. Both guests acknowledge that "Warfare," like its predecessors, carries implicit ideological messages despite its attempt at neutrality.
"Every war film is propaganda of a certain kind... This movie has a lot of moments where... you are inherently showing sort of a brotherhood that is gained by warfare."
— Roxana Hadadi [12:41]
Netta Ulaby adds that the film's lack of a clear political stance makes its propaganda elements too ambiguous, rendering the film's message unfocused.
"You can take whatever you please... It doesn't have anything to say ultimately."
— Netta Ulaby [14:33]
Conclusion and Final Thoughts
In wrapping up, Glenn Weldon reflects on the film's success in meeting its own parameters while leaving audiences with profound questions about war without providing definitive answers.
"It doesn't feel raw. It feels constructed... It feels like an experiment that is successful in its parameters that it sets for itself, but it raises more questions than it answers."
— Glenn Weldon [15:35]
Roxana Hadadi concurs, expressing a desire for more nuanced explorations of war's legacy beyond the simplistic assertion that "war is hell."
"I personally want more than that, and I think audiences deserve more."
— Roxana Hadadi [16:15]
The episode concludes with the hosts acknowledging the film's attempt to present an authentic war experience while critiquing its execution and impact on audiences.
Connect with Pop Culture Happy Hour:
Find us on Facebook, Letterboxd, and visit our episode description for more details.
This summary encapsulates the key discussions, insights, and critiques from the "Warfare" episode of Pop Culture Happy Hour, providing a comprehensive overview for those who haven't listened.