Critic Reviews

An honest, on-the-ground documentary about the lives of Americans fighting there. It has no spin. It's not left or right.

This documentary, which begins at a low key, gradually becomes intense and psychologically complicated.

It's the epitome of an embedded war report, though Rademacher's at-ease scenes with the soldiers have some of the warmth and terse humor of Ernie Pyle's, and there's some hair-raising footage of a machine-gun firefight.

Well shot but generically scored, Brothers at War has its share of potent moments, most of them with Mr. Rademacher’s family in the States.

Allowed remarkable access, presumably because of the familial connections, Rademacher comes up with compellingly unfamiliar documentary footage.

Made with the full cooperation of the Pentagon, Brothers at War makes the war on-screen seem eminently winnable, eminently noble. Rademacher's desire to prove himself to himself, and to his soldier brothers, may stir different reactions among different audience members. And that's as it should be.

Harrowing, heroic, and occasionally gripping.

Provides some interesting perspectives but also veers dangerously close to vanity project.

He does accomplish his main task, to take us into places civilians rarely go, and give witness to the immense challenges soldiers like his brothers face every second they’re required to be at war.

Rademacher's vigorous commitment to making the documentary, as well as to his large, close-knit family, deserves respect.