Armadillo
Armadillo Image
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Metascore
72 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 14 Critics What's this?

User Score
5.8 out of 10

Mixed or average reviews- based on 5 Ratings

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  • Summary: The first documentary ever chosen to compete in the International Critics’ Week at Cannes (where it won the grand prize), Janus Metz’s Armadillo follows a platoon of Danish soldiers on a six-month tour of Afghanistan in 2009. An intimate, visually stunning account of both the horror and growgrowing cynicism of modern warfare, the film premiered at the top of the box office in Denmark, provoking a national debate over government policy and the rules of engagement. (Lorber Films)… Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 14
  3. Negative: 0 out of 14
  1. Salon.com
    Reviewed by: Andrew O'Hehir
    Apr 14, 2011
    100
    It's a brilliant work of cinema, a nonfiction film as intense and visceral as any drama, and an emotional and moral experience that feels horrifying and exhilarating at almost the same moment.
  2. Time Out New York
    Reviewed by: Eric Hynes
    Apr 12, 2011
    80
    It's a sickening but stunning portrait of combat that looks past notions of bravery or brutality, guilt or innocence, to bear witness to a thoroughly besieged humanity.
  3. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: A.O. Scott
    Apr 14, 2011
    80
    The achievement of this film is to forestall and complicate easy judgment. You emerge shaken and bothered, which may sound like a reason not to see the movie. It is actually the opposite.
  4. Boxoffice Magazine
    Reviewed by: Vadim Rizov
    Apr 19, 2011
    60
    With perspective firmly confined to the soldiers, Armadillo has inevitably invited many comparisons to "Restrepo," last year's Oscar nominated documentary about Western forces trying to gain ground in Afghanistan. But "Restrepo" is by far the better film.

See all 14 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 2
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 2
  3. Negative: 0 out of 2
  1. DTDunn
    7
    This documentary helps to put some perspective on the war in Afghanistan, in that other countries have also sent their brave citizens off to fight what was our war. It is one thing to go off to revenge the attack on 9/11 if you are a US citizen, it is entirely another thing to take that step to defend an Allie. How anyone could watch this film and then call it boring is beyond me. Life in a war zone is endless boredom, interrupted but extreme terror, savage injuries, death, and exhilaration. This film did an excellent job or portraying that reality. Kudos to the cameraman who bravely went into battle with this forces.… Expand
  2. shaunmed
    4
    better than restrepo but still a bore to watch. i'm sure the experience of war is harrowing but these documentaries are not. just like restrepo it shows a bunch of stereotypical military guys with superior training and weapons than their enemy, walking around accidentally killing livestock and the occasional civilian. inevitably they kill a few taliban and an IED blows up someone, but nothing changes. there's no sense of accomplishment. it plays out like nothing more than a pointless job, like working at mcdonalds.… Expand

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