Lebanon 2009

Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel: We can smell the sweat, urine and diesel fuel in Lebanon. We can taste the exhaust, the metallic tang of explosive fumes from a shell ejected from the cannon. Read more

A.O. Scott, New York Times: In its creative audacity, the precision of its psychological portraiture and, above all, in its uncompromising moral seriousness, Lebanon accomplishes about as much as any war movie can. Read more

Joshua Rothkopf, Time Out: As a piece of formalist filmmaking, this tense tour of duty displays a you-are-there verve neared only by the likes of the 1981 submarine drama, Das Boot. Read more

Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal: If you think there's nothing more for the movies to say about war's madness, think again. Read more

Jonathan F. Richards, Film.com: There's a bit too much of the tight close-up of sweat- and soot-stained faces trembling with emotion and doubt, but there's no mistaking or escaping this movie's powerful impact. Read more

Scott Tobias, AV Club: A forceful, bruising experience that's good at conveying shell-fire mercilessness, but dramatically less effective when dealing with the small stuff. Read more

Ty Burr, Boston Globe: A filmmaking challenge that a cynic might dismiss as "Das Tank" if it didn't offer a scalding moral challenge in the bargain. Read more

Andrea Gronvall, Chicago Reader: Samuel Maoz drew from his own war experiences to write and direct this searing drama, which ranks alongside Platoon and No Man's Land as an antiwar statement and recalls the claustrophobic despair of Das Boot. Read more

Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune: The 94 minutes of Lebanon are about as intense as an autobiographical war drama can be. Read more

Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor: Despite the film's staginess and conventionality, Maoz does a powerful job capturing the countenances of his soldiers in resonating close-ups. Read more

Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly: Disturbing, visceral, personal... Read more

Michael Phillips, At the Movies: Very strong, one of the best I have seen this year. Read more

Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: Lebanon is a different kind of motion picture, and a different kind of audience experience. Read more

Rene Rodriguez, Miami Herald: The limited perspective of the world outside, combined with the claustrophobic, clammy interior of the rumbling tank, immediately generate a tremendous tension, and the film wastes no time in ratcheting up the stress. Read more

V.A. Musetto, New York Post: Maoz's Lebanon is inspired by the director's traumatic days at the front, giving his work a sense of authority. Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: This is a platoon picture in a rumbling, rolling crate. Read more

Walter V. Addiego, San Francisco Chronicle: It's a nonheroic vision of warfare focusing on the claustrophobia, confusion, fear and other emotions experienced by four soldiers who are far from battle-hardened. Read more

Tom Horgen, Minneapolis Star Tribune: It is a grisly experience, and one of the greatest war films I have ever seen. Read more

Calvin Wilson, St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Although Lebanon is to be congratulated for its bold visual strategy and strong antiwar stance, the film becomes claustrophobic after a while. When one of the characters finally emerges from the tank, you may find yourself as relieved as he is. Read more

Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail: An emotionally powerful if somewhat divided experience. Read more

Peter Howell, Toronto Star: Samuel Maoz's prize-winning film that removes all thoughts of glamour or glory from violent engagements. Think of it as the opposite of The Expendables. Read more

Dave Calhoun, Time Out: Lebanon is a film of randomly emerging episodes, some more successful than others. Read more

Derek Elley, Variety: Read more

J. Hoberman, Village Voice: Not just the year's most impressive first feature but also the strongest new movie of any kind I've seen in 2010. Read more

Stephanie Merry, Washington Post: Along with the plot's steady torment, a collection of elements reels the audience into the action to astonishing effect. Read more