Netflix war film with Oscar-winning A-list star has left fans ‘frustrated’ | Films | Entertainment
Most of what this Oscar-winning star touches turns to gold, however there’s one movie in his filmography that didn’t quite hit the mark.
The Hollywood A-lister is known to pick up diverse roles ranging from actioners, thrillers, and dramas all the way to romances and comedies, and while this 2017 film sits smack in the centre as a satirical war comedy — it has left viewers frustrated.
Starring Brad Pitt in the lead, War Machine was a film that left much to be desired — if fans and critics are to be believed.
Currently streaming on Netflix, this epic war drama was written and helmed by David Michôd and was adapted from Michael Hastings’ nonfiction book ‘The Operators: The Wild and Terrifying Inside Story of America’s War in Afghanistan’.
This fictionalised film has been dramatised for the big screen, however its roots are tethered to the events in the book which was centred on the United States Army General Stanley McChrystal.
With a supporting cast featuring Ben Kingsley, Tilda Swinton, Anthony Hayes, Topher Grace, Anthony Michael Hall, and Will Poulter, War Machine didn’t land quite as well as the cast and crew had hoped.
The film’s official plot states: “A successful, charismatic four-star general, Glenn McMahon, leaps in like a rock star to command NATO forces in Afghanistan, only to be taken down by a journalist’s no-holds-barred exposé.”
Speaking to People in 2017, Brad revealed the reason he took on the role and felt the story had to be brought to life on the big screen: “One of the reasons I wanted to make this film is you see young soldiers permanently damaged, mentally and physically. Maybe I’m projecting as a father and what I felt, but if we really want to support our troops, we need a true assessment of what we’re expanding. We’re talking about people.”
War Machine dropped straight onto Netflix’s streaming platform on May 26, 2017, and went on to garner a 48% critics approval rating and a dismal 35% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
While one critic said of the film: “[Brad] Pitt’s General spends most of the flick growing increasingly frustrated that nothing is happening — and I know the feeling.”
Another echoed the sentiment and added: “War is Hell, but War Machine is frustrating.”
Yet not all sentiment was negative, as one reviewer said: “One of the craziest things you’ll see on a screen-any kind of screen-this year. War Machine has its flaws but, long before the closing credits roll, you’re likely to surrender to its bizarre charms.”
While another critic wrote in a positive review: “America’s disastrous peace mission in Afghanistan has been turned into a sharp, satirical comedy starring Brad Pitt.”
Viewers also had mixed feelings towards this war film, with one writing: “This movie has become more relevant in 2025 than it did when it first came out. Watching it can be frustrating at times as the film illustrates correctly that counter insurgency operations always fail yet the United States military complex is willing to try again anyway, only to fail again expecting a different result. This is an underrated film showing how personality complexes shape foreign policy in this case for the worse 5/5.”
While an emotional fan said: “First movie to make me tear up in many years. A poignant satirical drama that explores the most tragic American foreign policy decision of our generation.”
Yet another positive audience review of the film stated: “This was a gem of a movie. I was surprised to learn that it was based on true military leaders in the war in Afghanistan. Witty and darkly humorous. Top flight cast of characters.”
You can watch the film for yourself and make up your mind, as War Machine is currently available to stream on Netflix.
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