50
Much of its strength resides in the way it eschews narrative contrivance. The movie observes behavior without explaining or judging it.
What are people saying?
What are critics saying?
75
San Francisco Chronicle by Edward Guthmann
One of the most impressive actor-to-filmmaker transitions in recent years.
88
In all respects, from choice of material to fullness of execution on every level, The War Zone is an extraordinary piece of work.
50
Roth can obviously direct actors sympathetically, and he paces the movie adroitly.
63
New York Post by Jonathan Foreman
A relentlessly grim, rather heavy-handed drama of family dysfunction.
89
Austin Chronicle by Marc Savlov
Sellbinding, distressing, and possessed of a dark and terrible beauty.
75
Seattle Post-Intelligencer by Paula Nechak
Sticks in the mind and simply won't go away.
100
Chicago Sun-Times by Roger Ebert
Brilliant and heartbreaking, takes place in the present but is timeless.
100
Portland Oregonian by Shawn Levy
A masterfully varied set of images, paces and moods.
63
San Francisco Examiner by Wesley Morris
Roth, though, is like a sociopathic arsonist, one enthralled with his ability to start little blazes and one who would even call the fire department, but wouldn't stick around to see whether anyone put them out.