User reviews

Will not appeal to those looking for an action oriented war movie, as the film is a methodically paced and cerebral look at the devastating effects of war on soldiers both on the battlefield and on their return home.

The three leads here Tye Sheridan, Alden Ehrenreich, and Jack Huston give fine performances, with strong support from Jennifer Anniston and Toni Collette. You'll have to wait till the end of the movie to find out how the mystery of what happened to Private Murphy (Sheridan) unfurled, amidst the film's numerous flashbacks.

Overall, this movie, despite being most difficult to watch at times, is still an important one illustrating the horrific effects of war on many soldiers.

For the first half hour or so I didn't know what to make of this film. The tone was all over the place and I couldn't tell if the filmmaker wanted to make a War film or a drama.

I'll do my best not to spoil anything, but it wouldn't matter if I did, as this film isn't worth your time. It was very clear throughout the film that the writers/filmmaker, either weren't very knowledgeable of the US Army and how soldiers address each other, conduct themselves, or what battle drills are or how they are conducted.

These two young soldiers we follow constantly refer to a non-commissioned officer as "sir". Anybody who has served knows that is a big no no and would earn them a nice smoke session(forced strenuous PT) until they address him properly. This is just one of many issues with the film.

I honestly have no clue when this movie is set. Based on their uniforms I assume it takes place during the early stages of the invasion of Iraq, yet bars and private homes have modern flat screen wall mounted tv sets? Also there is a scene near the beginning, of the two leads meeting each other at a shooting range, but I couldn't tell if it was supposed to be at bootcamp, or at their assigned duty station. This film is rife with this style of poor writing.

The War scenes should've either been cut entirely or presented more ambiguously. Because these actors and the director slept walked right through them. None of it felt earned or organic, which is partially due to the lifeless foley. The rifles, LMGs, explosions, hiss/snaps of incoming fire etc. all sounded like it was meant to be marketed to the elderly, so it wouldn't hurt their ears. I'm surprised nobody stepped in and told this director to get some kind of energy and passion out of the actors.

By about the fifty minute mark it was clear that they were going for a mystery/drama, but even that felt unearned. None of the dramatic scenes felt natural, it felt as though the writer was searching for something to keep the audience invested.

This wasn't the worst War film I've seen, but it's not a good one either. It tries too hard to be multiple different things at once, the acting was average at best, there wasn't enough build up to any of the plot points, the directing was weak for the most part. There is a good movie in here.... Somewhere. They just couldn't find it.

The movie was really good ,, wasn't perfect and yes maybe some errors here and there ,, but over all the movie was purposeful , based on a true story and really emotional ,., makes you think how you really can't feel what these who have been to war have felt back in Iraq or when they got home ..

The casting was also good ,, wanted to see more of Jennifer Aniston and Toni Collette but again it's not their story to tell ,, it's the soldiers. Tye Sheridan, since his X-men depute back in 2015 he's been doing great ,, and Alden Ehrenreich did good too,.

Again, don't really care if there wasn't flat screen TVs in 2003 ,, just you know first flat screen came out in 1997 and become popular in the early 2000's ,, I actually noticed the Hajjis in the movie they speak Moroccan accent not Iraqi , i know because i know the language but again it didn't matter... the story itself was good and had a goal ,, War hurts everyone and keeps on hurting even after it ends, so don't start one in the first place.

finale thought,, watch it , it is recommended and sometimes you need to read more than one review.

Not a war film. But a film about war. Not the best. But decent. And good reflection of good intentions. It is a drama presenting two young men in Iraq war. Theirs mothers. The traumas. The choice of one. And the confession of the other. Sure, it is not real convincing. But, after so manyy great war films, "The Yellow Birds" has the purpose to remind the frame of heroism , sacrifice, lost of the other. And, in this sense, it does a good job. Because, against its status of sketch, it has the virtue to present, in the right nuances, a tragedy who, in this case, escapes from the circle of special effects and easy melodrama or heavy patriotism. A decent film. With few great scenes.

Just a good flik. not a powerful war flik, not a moving love story, not an action flik, just very well made and moving...big thumbs up

Yellow Birds was a flawed movie from start to finish. Despite the story being interesting and the quality of production being above average, this was an easily forgettable war movie. To start, it was exceptionally slow to start picking up, which is never a good sign (especially when the movie is so short). We never saw their friendship grow or really any character development occur. We were never provided with a clear reason as to why they decided to hid that truth and cover it up. And we have no idea how it was found out that they did that. Just loads of missing information throughout. Not a fan.

Not with the natural line of war film. But right with my war experience André the years after.

These studios that want to make military movies need to hire advisers, I'm sure there are a million vets out there that will do it just to see that it's done correctly, I would gladly. I got 4 mins into the film before I turned it off. Specialist insignia upside down on uniform, people calling an NCO "sir". C'mon now, it's 2018. There's probably more war vets alive in the history of America than ever before, least you can do is get it right if you're going to portray us!

The mechanics of this movie were good, the quality of the movie was good, the acting itself was just OK but a little bit lacking, for that it barely scratches a 5 for me. First let's get a pure aesthetic thing out of the way. If you are going to make a war film, get the actual equipment right. The U.S. Army uses Blackhawk helicopters and have for quite awhile now. Go to the military's public affairs office, find their office that works with Hollywood and the film industry and arrange for some Blackhawks not Huey's. The movie comes off as high quality enough to take that step. Oh, and you are not going to have those gun truck, Humvees with turrets, supporting you without someone in the hatch with some fire power.

Now. The acting here was just OK, not great, maybe good. The scenes though and the whole plot reveal at the end...it is just hogwash. Plain and simple. This is not how soldiers behave and not what I (as a veteran) can tell you, would even be imaginable. The platoon/ company/ chain of command dynamic is completely absent. The squad dynamic is altogether wrong, and those are huge plot holes. The writer has only a small vague understanding of how men and women in our armed forces behave, and interact with each other and how military operations work. I am trying not to give away any spoilers but the incident in the film is something that would be a million to one shot of happening in real life, and the way the follow on was carried out would have even longer odds. That doesn't even get to the odds that soldiers would think in this way, let alone carry out. Frankly, I can't even imagine a scenario where anything like this could actually even be conceived or even began to be carried out without hitting immediate large roadblocks that would cease it immediately in today's military. Again I can give it a 5 on some of it's cinematic merits but ultimately it doesn't overcome huge realistic obstacles. I don't believe it has any political/ideological objectives as far as being pro or anti-war. If it did it fails on that but I'm hoping that there wasn't one. Mostly this just suffers from a real lack of realism which draws in a lack of real connection and feeling. If they changed it into a more entertaining action movie that might make it more passable, but for the drama they were trying to portray it was overall lacking.

I am a Vietnam Vet who served in an air rescue and recovery squadron in 1969-70. Most war films pathetically fail for me because they're attempting to convey some message or other about wars, but this is one of those which offers the viewer a genuine insight into the ways that soldiers and their families deal with what they've all done (or not done) as well as what has been done to them.

Not only does this fine cast make the most of the script which is based upon a novel, but its cinematography is strongly evocative. Someone here has unfairly characterised the two mothers as being "hotties". I defy any objective person to explain how the appearance or behaviour of Toni Collette is remotely like a "hottie". Aniston was an executive producer who does wear an attractive dress at a party early in the film, but this sets up a stark contrast with her scenes in the second half talking with Collette and later with Alden Ehrenreich.

Based on its low IMDB rating, I had only rented it. However, I will now purchase and add this to my collection of worthwhile war films such as Clint Eastwood's 'Flags of Our Fathers/Letters from Iwo Jima' and Oliver Stone's 'Platoon'.

For those who are disquieted by my praise of 'The Yellow Birds', I'd hope you please keep in mind this is merely one very old veteran's viewpoint based upon the ever-vivid memories of my tour of duty. Whether those memories have become distorted over 5 decades, I simply have no idea.

Tye Sheridan, Toni Collette, Jason Patric and Jennifer Aniston.....

(alden ehrenreich was just fantastic)

There was some nice cinematography and they were able to blend together both the action and mystery elements together quite nicely, however some of the writing and editing choices were awkwardly done. Tye Sheridan once again does a great job at proving he's a star in the making. Toni Collette and Jennifer Aniston were also great. really the whole cast did an amazing job with the material they were giving.

This film tells the story of two young soldiers and their mothers, who are devastated by the war in different ways.

It is a powerful anti war film, even though most of the time there is no blood and gore. The psychological effects of war on the soldiers and the families are profound, and the film portrays the feelings effectively. I'm also very glad to see two very famous actresses in this film.

Sometimes you start a movie and have to know it's going to drag some . With that being said you have to be in the mood to deal with that. It wasn't a bad movie it just seemed to jump around a bit too much . And I didn't understand at times what was going on . Probably end up being the young need to watch it twice type of movie to pull it together.

(2017) The Yellow Birds WAR/ DRAMA

Adapted from the novel by Kevin Powers, that has Pvt Daniel Murphy (Tye Sheridan) in bar noticing a young lady dancing at a bar noticing him, and his army peer attempting to motivate him to go up to her and ask her until explosions are heard and an alarm begins to sound. And both and Murphy then go for cover, arm themselves to run back out and participate in firing back. After that has come and gone, Murphy is then making fast friends with Pvt, Bartle (Alden Ehrenreich) as the Sgt Garret Sterling (Jack Huston) of the unit paired them up with one another. As viewers assume Murphy is the star of the movie, since we are then introduced to his mom, Maureen Murphy (Jennifer Anistan) and so forth the movie then observes her son's slow mental deterioration. At which point some time halfway during the movie, Bartle comes back home from duty with no mention of Daniel Murphy also coming home at all. And when Bartle comes home and sees his mom, Amy Bartle (Toni Collette), he devoid any type of celebration as it was obvious he wanted to be left alone- including seeing and meeting his love interest. Some time during the following week CID Captain Anderson (Jason Patric) then stops by at the mom's place to meet her son and at that point viewers suspect something odd has happened as he came back but his best friend, Daniel Murphy had not. For the movie uses flashbacks from what happened between back then and the present time while Bartle is trying to overcome his guilt, we can only only suspect without any judgement.

I did not like, love this movie but I get the message that war in general is just as ambigouous as the wild west The ending of the movie provided a lot of thought in regarding what is the truth and what isn't!

This movie is hard to watch for anyone prior service. Every five seconds I was pointing out a variety of errors. I have seen some ate up movies but this one ranks up at the top. It's like you took a chapter out of Army Wives. Hollywood people, please take note; you embarrass real Soldiers when you create movies like this one. Not to mention, our wives have to hear us point out every blunder. Hire some advisors so you don't make the US Army look like chewed bubblegum. A little research would have been helpful. Use the correct uniforms, buckle that chin strap, take your hands out of your pockets and never call an NCO sir!

I guess this movie was meant to be a drama with flashbacks of war.

The main part of the movie is when Jennifer Anniston (Mrs Murphy) advises her son's friend that if anything happens to her son, she wants to hear from him first. That just didn't sound realistic... what mother thinks like that or says that out loud?

The worst part of this movie are the tons of flashbacks, not always to the same point in time. It was as if the audience had to see a present-day result first, and then see what led to it.

I love movies about after-war, my favorite being The Best Years of Our Lives (1946). Others I like include Brothers, The Lucky One, The Lucky Ones, Megan Leavey, The Messenger, Pride of the Marines, Taking Chance, Thank You for Your Service.

The Best years of Our Lives is my favorite movie ever.... it is listed in the top 100 of all time, but usually my friends have never heard of it.

I'd probably rate the others around an 8, but The Yellow Birds was a notch below them.

Can the morons that make these movies try to research a little before the make these inaccurate wastes of our time. Army Soldiers dont call Sergeants Sir, thats the Marines, and the Army has Posts, not Bases, thats the AirForce. The movie was very slow and boring. Maybe OK to watch on free tv or cable, but dont purchase it on Pay Per View.

The movie was OK. Nothing special. I slept right in the middle of it.

Just a remark, It felt weird watching a movie where locals speak Moroccan and it was supposed to be in Irak.

Many people speak many languages, please don't insult us. I speak 5 languages. Makes me remember when actors speak German in movie. Most of the time, it has nothing to do with German.

Take Full Metal Jacket, The Hurt Locker, a Six-Pack of Beer and some Hot Moms-Put It In A Blender and Run It On High

Although the concept of the main story might be original, it is lost within the inspirations of other films portrayed here.

The casting of Jennifer Aniston, Jason Patric, Toni Collette and Lee Tergesen is a complete waste of their talents as The Yellow Birds does not carry enough impact to warrant their inclusion. The film spends the majority of it's focus dealing with the effect upon the character Brandon Bartle, leaving all other characters insignificant to the main story.

The Yellow Birds strikes me as one of those 'first time' films, which is close as this is the second full length film directed by Alexandre Moors. What I see as another issue that convoluted the story is The Yellow Birds was burdened by thirty-five producers -that's 35 for you numbers folk.

Skip this film or save it for after you've binged everything else on Netflix.

I don't know much about any of the characters in this movie. That's a big problem. Because I finished watching it.

Why would I feel anything other than indifference for them? For all I know the shy kid may have been a horrible human being previously. Why is the older one so despondent all the time?

Why would you need two big stars to play the mothers? They hardly said anything about themselves or their sons. Who was the Sargeant ?

Can you say "cliche?" Hopefully, because this one was filled with them. The greenhorn recruit, the gung-ho southern Sargeant. The Humvee driver playing rock music.

Come on. If you're going to do a war film, you must come up with some different angle or perspective. Because it's already been done so many times.

We already know that war is hell, and that every veteran character thinks he has seen the dark side in some unique way that no one can relate to.

But Iraq was not Vietnam. There probably weren't many jungles, tunnels, tigers, water snakes, leeches, humidity.

Land mines, scorpions and body bombs yes. Got that. I understand that the young one would be overwhelmed. Who let him into combat anyway? Don't they have interviews?

As others have said, the crime committed was so illogical that it blows the mind. I don't believe it. I lived through the whole boring mess to find out what happens, and that's what I got? That's unacceptable.

I actually needed to see some obligatory Christians and patriots. Because I know that they exist. Not every soldier is some lost soul looking for a purpose and a paycheck.

Yet I didn't see anyone who understood what the war was about or felt invested patriotically or spiritually. So sloppy.

Just to show how little this country really cares about the Iraq War or its veterans. There were so many horrible mistakes just on the range scene I turned this movie off. Veterans have come home scarred and unemployed and this is how they are dishonored. This movie was filmed in Georgia there is a retiree or veteran under just about every piece of granite and they couldn't ask ONE for advice? The reviewer who called these filmmakers morons was too kind. Routinely the press gets the military wrong but after years and years of watching accurate war movies, at least with reasonably accurate uniforms, somebody made this piece of junk. You ought to be ashamed. People died in that war and you do this. Happy Memorial Day weekend. Enjoy your barbeque.

That's ridiculous to leave him like that. He was murdered by the locals and not the fault of anyone