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The Ground Truth
Metascore
74 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 20 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 20
  3. Negative: 0 out of 20
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  1. Boston Globe
    Reviewed by: Ty Burr
    100
    The documentary any American with an opinion on our involvement in Iraq owes it to his or her conscience to see.
  2. Premiere
    Reviewed by: Sara Brady
    100
    This film, a raw howl of outrage and pain, is proudly one-sided, allowing a generation of wounded men and women to scream their betrayal.
  3. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: James Greenberg
    90
    Foulkrod's film is not about taking a political side, though it is clear she is strongly opposed to the war in Iraq. Her focus instead is on the dehumanizing of eager young men and their transformation into killing machines.
  4. Slate
    Reviewed by: Dana Stevens
    90
    Wrenching new documentary about returning veterans, may not single-handedly reverse the trend of ignoring Iraq docs in theatrical release, but it should.
  5. Time
    Reviewed by: Richard Corliss
    90
    Both horrifying and hopeful.
  6. Seattle Post-Intelligencer
    Reviewed by: Sean Axmaker
    83
    Anyone who claims to support the troops owes it to them to see the film and hear their stories.
  7. Film Threat
    Reviewed by: Pete Vonder Haar
    80
    Far from being a mere polemic, The Ground Truth is bolstered immeasurably by Foulkrod's almost exclusive use of interviews with actual veterans.
  8. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Kenneth Turan
    80
    This thoughtful, sensitive film, perhaps the most emotionally wrenching of all the Iraq documentaries, could have been made after any war.
  9. Variety
    Reviewed by: John Anderson
    80
    The substance of the movie is potent, and so powerfully presented by those who have fought and are still fighting a controversial war, that the message of Ground Truth cannot be dismissed.
  10. Washington Post
    Reviewed by: Desson Thomson
    80
    Mostly a string of talking-head interviews, but those talking heads -- more than 16 men and women -- are compelling.
  11. Chicago Reader
    Reviewed by: J.R. Jones
    80
    It's become a critical cliche to say that everyone in the U.S. should see a particular war documentary, but even the most selfish citizen might want to check out The Ground Truth, because unlike the Iraqi victims of the war, the American ones are all around us.
  12. Chicago Tribune
    Reviewed by: Jessica Reaves
    75
    Compelling and intensely provocative.
  13. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Mick LaSalle
    75
    Powerfully documents the human cost of the Iraq war.
  14. The A.V. Club
    Reviewed by: Nathan Rabin
    75
    Foulkrod's film covers little new ground, but some painful truths are worth repeating.
  15. L.A. Weekly
    Reviewed by: Ella Taylor
    70
    Immensely moving.
  16. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Stephen Holden
    70
    Tries to do too much in too little time. It would be a stronger film if it devoted more detailed attention to the plight of the returning veteran. As it stands, it is a scattershot antiwar polemic that doesn't bolster its arguments with any historical perspective or statistical evidence. No one from the government or the military is trotted out to give an opposing view. This is not to say that The Ground Truth, on its own terms, isn't devastating.
  17. Austin Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Marjorie Baumgarten
    67
    Foulkrod's film instead airs some of the hard-won truths learned by American soldiers from experience.
  18. New York Post
    Reviewed by: Kyle Smith
    63
    Ends up feeling familiar.
  19. The New Yorker
    Reviewed by: David Denby
    60
    The Ground Truth is an emotionally potent work, but the great study of an Iraq vet, in either documentary or fictional form, has yet to be made.
  20. Village Voice
    Reviewed by: Michael Atkinson
    50
    The details are eye-opening (or ear-opening, in the case of marching songs taught to the new Marines about slaughtering Arab schoolchildren), but soon Foulkrod's film backs itself into a Support Our Troops corner.
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User Reviews

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User Score
5.8 out of 10

Mixed or average reviews- based on 8 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 5
  3. Negative: 4 out of 5
  1. Nazgulero
    0
    I wonder how the protagonists of this movie are regarded by the rest of the folks on active duty, and the vets. Who needs yet another tearjerker about some individuals not being able to handle the consequences of war ? Yes, war is terrible, yes, war kills innocents - what else is new ? What is the purpose of making your fellow soldiers look like child killers without a conscience ? I am in no way pro military, and I am against it neither. This is just way too biased. They should have try to make this movie more balanced.… Full Review »
  2. MarkM.
    3
    Works best when it's about people not politics. I mean, really, does the world need yet another shrill polemic. It alienates the very people who shouldn't be but that perhaps is giving the director of this film far too much credit. Best to leave it to others. Consider the movie a missed opportunity to reach out.… Full Review »
  3. DM.
    2
    A piece of propaganda (rather like FOX NEWS) that is 'fair and balanced' only if you accept the majority of oppinion 'out there' is not. The assorted placards, posters and flyers swamping the film in the background add up to a fascinating discourse in themselves, and leaves you in no doubt of the truest purpose of this movie and director Foulkrod intent. Those broken and traumatised soldiers are the only ones she could ever embrace. Grouphug everybody! It's not that I feel no empathy with the individuals featured, but rather because I do. There are soooo many questions that could have been put to them (did they ever think that they would fight in a war that they did not believe in - not thinking of the Iraq war specifically) Sadly -sans the disgraceful tratment of the military and some of its personnel in times of crisis - it doesn't tell us anything new. despite the tragically low score I'd still urge people to see it. It's aa accurate picture of what some think if not all and they do deserve to be heard. But also to be challenged and that's my lot.… Full Review »
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