SYNOPSICS
Point Man (2018) is a English movie. Phil Blattenberger has directed this movie. Joshua Dela Cruz,Jimmy Ace Lewis,Acoryé White,Jamie Roy are the starring of this movie. It was released in 2018. Point Man (2018) is considered one of the best Action movie in India and around the world.
Set in Vietnam in April 1968 - three months after the tide-turning Tet Offensive and one month after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. - Point Man is the story of a U.S. Army fire team fractured by racial tensions, moral crises, and the crushing pressures of combat in a war nobody wants to fight. Andre "Casper" Allen, a rough-edged ideologue, finds his radical politics put him at odds with the squad's machine gunner, Silas Meeks. When their search-and-destroy mission in the Mekong Delta goes terribly wrong, both men find themselves pitted against each other and their recalcitrant platoon commander, Lieutenant Sutter. Point men die like flies in the bush, and as loyalties dissolve every step forward comes with a price.
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Point Man (2018) Reviews
The good, the okay, and the ugly...
The Good... In the film making industry they say that story is king, and this story is a good as it gets! The Okay... The acting is good for the most part, but certain dialog deliveries, handling of weapons, and urgency of wartime shots are wooden and uninspired. The Ugly... The special effects are clearly budget level. As long as you don't allow them to take you out of the movie's experience, you will really enjoy this film.
A brave new perspective on the Vietnam War.
First I'd like to say this is my first IMDB review and I made a new account just to write it. Before reading my review you should know that I am coming at this from a filmmaker's perspective. I have some idea of the obstacles and trials that come with the territory of making an indie film. This is not an average joe's take on Point Man. The film kicks us off with an intro reminiscent of a multitude of war films while still remaining original. But the tone is set soon after with the "belt buckle" scene that I'll let you see and interpret for yourself. I don't want to give too much of the plot away because I didn't know much outside of the synopsis going into it and it was much more rewarding that way in my opinion. I saw the trailer and honestly was not impressed. I'm very happy I overlooked it and decided to watch this film. What I liked about Point Man. What could have been better about Point Man. Final Thought on Point Man. The was a rookie debut by Blattenberger done on a shoestring budget that I walked away thoroughly impressed with. I say that not just from an indie perspective but overall. It's not easy for me to enjoy a movie because of how much I nit pick but damn this was good. I didn't get into the themes as much because I don't want to give away too much of the plot. It's best you just take this trip for yourself. This is not an action movie, I REPEAT THIS IS NOT MEANT TO BE AN ACTION MOVIE. This is a film about people, controversial themes and well written characters that stick with you long after the credits role. If you're wondering whether to check this out I encourage you to do so. You may feel angry or confused or not feel a sense of fulfillment in the finale but you won't feel like you wasted your time. Point Man deserves recognition as one of the finest indies of 2019 and a brave new perspective on the Vietnam War.
A gripping Viet Nam DRAMA
My review of POINT MAN. First, let's be clear: Point Man has a budget. You won't see any actors you've heard of (yet) and if you're looking for ten million dollar Hollywood pyrotechnics you should probably move on. In fact, this film should probably be marketed as a drama rather than an action, as Vision/Sony's trailer leads us to believe. This is a high-stakes, dramatic gambit set with the Vietnam War as the backdrop. But none of the budget constraints (I judge it at 3mil) have any real effect on the story, which is the best part of this film. Protagonist Casper and antagonist Meeks are well crafted and bounce off of each other dynamically throughout the film. The supporting cast round out nicely. The acting is stellar. Christopher Long is mesmerising as the film's lead. There are no real weak points in the cast. Point Man is a departure from the classic Viet Nam films of the 1980s and 1990s we're used to seeing from American cinema; it's not a heavy-handed political criticism of the war and it's not a propaganda piece. At its core it's an ethical conundrum embedded in the tapestry of the American conflict in Southeast Asia. It's a Kantian dilemma with palm trees and gunfire. If you are looking for a 100mil studio feature, Point Man may disappoint you. If you're concerned with narrative and performance - and originality in a cinematic landscape littered with shameless derivation - give it a go. You may find yourself a gem. DJM
Solid addition to the anthology of Vietnam War films
It's always great to see new films coming out about Vietnam, which is criminally underrepresented in the catalogue of war films that get released every year. I rank this one seven out of ten stars. Let's break it down: ACTING: 9/10 Unbelievable performances out of this one. Christopher Long is incredible. Ditto Jacob Keohane as his antagonist, and Chase Gutzmore, the film's tabula rosa. It's hard to find indie films with no known actors that can garnish this kind of review, but seriously, the entire ensemble is magnificent. These guys won't stay under the radar for long. STORY: 8/10 In independent film story is key, and in a dialogue-driven film you'd better go for broke on the writing. Point Man's writer did precisely that. Outstanding dialogue. Marvelously written, from the characters to their development to the plot, which begins with a simple foot patrol in the jungle and descends into the dark heart of humanity. It's a thinker's movie without the pretentiousness that usually accompanies them. CINEMATOGRAPHY: 5/10 Point Man is watchable, certainly, but its director isn't going to win any awards for the cinematography. It's not particularly creative, instead using standard back-and-forth shots for the majority of the film. I guess this comes with the territory in anything dialogue-driven, but everything was far too static for my tastes. Which leads me to... PRODUCTION VALUE: 4/10 My biggest criticism of Point Man lies under this category. It's a great story but it just could've been so much greater had the producers not missed so many opportunities. This thing was shot in Southeast Asia (Cambodia and Vietnam, according to their page) but failed to really feature the topography in a way that accented the production. Why not harness that terrain with the camera? Why not take advantage of the rice patties you can't get anywhere else in the world and get some creative establishing shots? What saves it production-wise and ultimately makes it passable are its few meritorious big acquisitions, like Huey helicopters, which greatly enhance it, some big explosions, and the wardrobe, which appears carefully crafted, if dotted with some inaccuracies. TOTAL: 7/10 Story means the world - lots of big budget flicks out there with terrible stories that leave viewers disappointed. And it's the story, ultimately, that makes Point Man worth watching.
Gorgeous film shot in Southeast Asia
I had the pleasure of seeing this film at its North American premiere in St. Louis in November 2018. As I recall its director Blattenberger was nominated for best first time director, a well deserved accolade that reflects on the rest of the cast. Really a marvelous production. Southeast Asianists are in for a treat - Point Man is shot on location in Cambodia and Vietnam. Watching American GIs walking across sprawling rice patties and berms is something only Southeast Asia can deliver in its most authentic form, and Point Man takes on an truthful quality only that continent can deliver. There is no sweat like the kind a tropical sun bleeds from your pores, and you can see it in every wearisome step across a landscape radiating with heat and danger. Take 90 minutes out of your day to watch Point Man. I don't think you'll be disappointed.