Metascore

Generally favorable reviews - based on 18 Critics What's this?

User Score

Universal acclaim- based on 16 Ratings

  • Summary: An investigative and powerfully emotional documentary about the epidemic of rape of soldiers within the US military, the institutions that perpetuate and cover up its existence, and its profound personal and social consequences.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 18
  2. Negative: 0 out of 18
  1. Reviewed by: Scott Tobias
    Jun 20, 2012
    91
    Though Dick focuses heavily on just a few women, The Invisible War builds to a stunning montage of victim after victim telling their story to the camera without pseudonyms or silhouettes.
  2. Reviewed by: A.O. Scott
    Jun 21, 2012
    80
    This means that the violations chronicled in The Invisible War are compounded by a deep and terrible betrayal, which ripples outward from the various branches of the service into the society as a whole. This is not a movie that can be ignored.
  3. Reviewed by: Alison Willmore
    Jun 25, 2012
    80
    The Invisible War might be best judged as a piece of activism, in which case it's already succeeding - after seeing the film in April, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta took the responsibility for sexual assault investigations away from commanding officers and put them in the hands of higher-ranking officials.
  4. Reviewed by: David Fear
    Jun 19, 2012
    60
    These victims are now no longer invisible-an achievement that shouldn't be dishonorably dismissed.

See all 18 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4
  1. This is the kind of documentary evidence that can't be disputed. Great to see this kind of thing being made to highlight such disgraceful injustice. Very powerful but very honest. Doesn't need to embellish anything. Go to their website and join the fight for justice in anyway you can. There's a petition. Expand
  2. It's hard not to conflate the content with the film itself and its construction. I suppose with investigative documentary film-making, you can name a project a success when the content has been investigated fully, when the process of creation advances the body of knowledge and understanding on the topic, when it is pieced together in a way that is coherent and yet, in a way that keeps you interested, pulls at the heartstrings and tells a fascinating real story. This film is a good investigative documentary. It is good for being the 21st century last resort for exposure on real issues that are ignored by systems in place. The craft is almost secondary but done well enough not to be noticeable or impeding. This is a film people should watch, particularly americans. It is a real eye opener not only from the incidences of sexual assault documented in the US military, but more importantly I feel, the effect this has on the ordinary people who do not deserve it, who literally have their psyches devastated. It is not an easy or fun watch, but an important one. Well put together and illuminating. Much respect to all involved in the project. This film will fill you with anger at the horrendous chauvinism, cultural violence and irresponsibility at the heart of one of american's biggest institutions. We are nowhere in this world without films, books, music that endeavour to improve us like this one does. Collapse

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