Let's talk about War on Terror war movies

Cafe Society
1

So I put together a list of most of the major films about the “War on Terror”. Generally these are films about post 9/11 conflict in the Middle East. But I also include Black Hawk Down as some consider Somalia a precursor to the War on Terror. In any event, I feel Black Hawk Down set much of the tone and style of war movies to follow. Also, many of these films are political thrillers or espionage spy films. Due to the nature of the War on Terror, there is obviously a lot of overlap.

Black Hawk Down
Syriana
World Trade Center
United 93
The Kingdom
Traitor
Lions for Lambs
Body of Lies
The Hurt Locker
Green Zone
Zero Dark Thirty
Captain Phillips
Lone Survivor
American Sniper
Good Kill
13 Hours
Much like previous war films had distinct styles reflecting the wars they covered (Hueys in 'Nam, wisecracking WWII GIs, etc), I feel like there are certain tropes or stylistic themes that are common to these modern war films (accurate or not IRL):

  • Soldiers calling loved ones from the field (or even in combat)
  • SOCOM troops kickin’ it around the base waiting for a mission
  • Drones
  • Remotely watching battles on walls of monitors (with some in thermal imaging B&W or night vision green)
  • American paramilitary troops in baseball hats, shorts and tactical gear
  • Incompetent, arrogant bureaucrats and politicians with misplaced idealism
  • “Great being home honey…I think I’m going to sign up for another tour”.
  • Somehow the entire war on terror falls on one agent and their team
  • Delta and Navy SEAL operators are really in touch with their feelings
  • Why send in overwhelming American firepower when you can just send in a handful of guys and watch everything go to shit?
  • News footage of the 9/11 attacks.
2

I think you should add the very underrated Eye in The Sky.
Not only does it cover all the tropes for the War on Terror film but it adds a great look at how this war can be conducted thousands of miles away from the “battlefield” and involve various types and ranks of people and nations.
And while that bird spy may seem like science fiction I understand that such a spy will soon exist for real.

3

Should “Three Kings” count? It’s got the washed out look and “torture from man raised in US”

4

I only say no because it came out before 9/11 and is about the first Gulf War. But I would agree that it has many of the visual elements. Also “I am love United States of Freedom!” guy!
I can’t believe I forgot Eye in the Sky

5

I’d allow THE SIEGE, though.

6

I’ll raise with Four Lions.

7

Wooo…Good one!

8

I found In the Valley of Elah moving, particularly Tommie Lee Jones at the ending. It’s about PTSD and the cost of violence, disguised as a police procedural.

9

There’s a whole subgenre of War on Terror PTSD films:
Brothers
Home of the Brave
Good Kill
Stop Loss
If you are going to count Three Kings and The Siege, you also have to include Rules of Engagement where Tommy Lee Jones defends Samuel L Jackson’s conduct during a Benghazi-like attack on a US embassy. Although I’m inclined to lump anything before 9/11 as a sort of “pre War on Terror” genre. As 9/11 and the War on Terror hadn’t begun, there’s less of a “look how real and important this movie is” feel to it. For all intents and purposes, the terrorist “bad guys” are the same ones that Arnold might have fought in True Lies.