Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk

Name: Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk
Genre: Drama, History, Comedy, War
Released: November 11, 2016
Duration: 113 min
Rating: 53
Cast: Joe Alwyn

2016

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Mixed or average reviews based on 42 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 69 Ratings

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6.0

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6.0	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 69 Ratings

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Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk

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Movie Details & Credits

TriStar Pictures | Release Date: November 11, 2016 | R

Starring: Joe Alwyn

Summary: Based on the widely-acclaimed, bestselling novel, the film is told from the point of view of 19-year-old private Billy Lynn (Joe Alwyn) who, along with his fellow soldiers in Bravo Squad, becomes a hero after a harrowing Iraq battle and is brought home temporarily for a victory tour. Through flashbacks, culminating at the spectacularBased on the widely-acclaimed, bestselling novel, the film is told from the point of view of 19-year-old private Billy Lynn (Joe Alwyn) who, along with his fellow soldiers in Bravo Squad, becomes a hero after a harrowing Iraq battle and is brought home temporarily for a victory tour. Through flashbacks, culminating at the spectacular halftime show of the Thanksgiving Day football game, the film reveals what really happened to the squad - contrasting the realities of the war with America's perceptions. [Sony]… Expand

Director: Ang Lee

Genre(s): Drama, History, Comedy, War

Rating: R

Runtime: 113 min

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Critic Reviews

Soren Andersen

Nov 17, 2016

The acting and script are so strong that the picture is an outstanding achievement even in the 2D version that most people will see. Read full review

A.O. Scott

Nov 10, 2016

The satire may be a little too gentle, but there is something disarmingly tender about the way Mr. Lee dramatizes young Billy’s predicament. You may be surprised at how sweet this movie is and also, in retrospect, startled by how bleak its vision turns out to be. Read full review

IndieWire Eric Kohn

Oct 15, 2016

So long as “Billy Lynn” remains focused on his ambiguous mindset, it remains an engaging, somewhat theatrical character study. But Lee’s ongoing need to complicate his approach yields a movie trapped between conventional narrative tropes and questionable attempts to deliver something that registers on a more visceral level. Read full review

Ty Burr

Nov 17, 2016

Directing the film version, Lee gets lost in the grotesque pomp of the halftime spectacle and its lead-up. He gets fine performances from the actors playing the soldiers and a terrible one from Stewart, who flails her arms like an amateur. Martin’s role is beneath his talents, while Vin Diesel’s, as a Zen warrior of a sergeant, is almost beyond belief. Read full review

Kate Taylor

Nov 17, 2016

As a 21st-century account of the soldier’s enduring alienation from the home front, Billy Lynn is highly effective. It’s what surrounds that account that doesn’t work. Read full review

Joe McGovern

Nov 10, 2016

The weirdest and rarest misfire in Lee’s illustrious career. Read full review

Kyle Smith

Nov 10, 2016

Dramatically inert, satirically inept and thematically insufferable, Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk is the most disappointing film of the year. Read full review

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User Reviews

yujia

Nov 20, 2016

A beautifully-shot masterpiece! It talks about issues that are deeper than war and troops. I didn't think it was possible, but I actually like this movie better than Brokeback Mountain and Life of Pi. How can anyone hate this? The movie goes extremely deep. I really hope Ang Lee will winA beautifully-shot masterpiece! It talks about issues that are deeper than war and troops. I didn't think it was possible, but I actually like this movie better than Brokeback Mountain and Life of Pi. How can anyone hate this? The movie goes extremely deep. I really hope Ang Lee will win academy again as best director, even best picture!… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

bfoore90

Apr 27, 2017

Obviously not a movie for everyone but a brilliant piece of satire nonetheless. It takes a look at our young hero, Billy Lynn, a fresh faced, wide eyed Texan who after performing a heroic action caught on camera is involved in a promotional propaganda tour. It takes a look at the jingoismObviously not a movie for everyone but a brilliant piece of satire nonetheless. It takes a look at our young hero, Billy Lynn, a fresh faced, wide eyed Texan who after performing a heroic action caught on camera is involved in a promotional propaganda tour. It takes a look at the jingoism and greed that our country shows when it comes to our brave service men and women. It has its flaws, the way its shot makes it kind of awkward and a few weird scenes but overall, its a solid look at war and a solid film for all involved.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

DirigiblePulp

Jul 4, 2017

This is a good movie. All the discussion about it surrounds the technology used in making it, and that's necessary, but it's not the whole story -- nor is it NOT the story as others would have you believe. The simple fact is that this is a well-acted and at times completely engrossingThis is a good movie. All the discussion about it surrounds the technology used in making it, and that's necessary, but it's not the whole story -- nor is it NOT the story as others would have you believe. The simple fact is that this is a well-acted and at times completely engrossing anti-war picture, one that is more often than not, yes, let down by some of the failings of trying to show off the tech. Some scenes come across as incredibly "stage-y" for lack of a better word, and the lighting can be overlit fluorescent too often (like a docudrama).

However, that being said, I did have the pleasure of actually being able to see this on 3D bluray and I must say it's absolutely the most stunning 3D I think I've ever seen. There's an incredible amount of depth to so many scenes -- sometimes it's showy, but sometimes it's in service of the story like when Billy comes home and the entrance hallway seems to stretch on forever out in front of him, inviting him in to its embrace but also providing a dark trap. The essential conundrum, the doublethink, at the center of his inner workings.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

TVJerry

Nov 19, 2016

Billy is a young soldier on a US victory tour with his squad after a heroic skirmish in Iraq. The narrative alternates between their recognition at a big football game and flashbacks to his family and his experiences in the military. The best thing about this film is the deeply nuanced andBilly is a young soldier on a US victory tour with his squad after a heroic skirmish in Iraq. The narrative alternates between their recognition at a big football game and flashbacks to his family and his experiences in the military. The best thing about this film is the deeply nuanced and quietly sensitive portrayal of the title character by British actor Joe Alwyn. He manages to rise above the inert drama and endless preaching to bring emotion to his character (although he cries one time too many). The film's message about the sacrifices of our soldiers and the politics of war keeps pounding back…ultimately, becoming tiresome. While the performances are effective and some of the scenes have impact, director Ang Lee substitutes copious tears and ardent closeups for real drama. (That skirmish with the stagehands was a contrived excuse to trigger a climax.)… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Voodoo123

May 8, 2018

Bl's long halftime walk is an at times thoughtful yet ultimately pretentious story following a hero soldiers brief stint as an american medias publicity story for the iraq war effort. We watch as he struggles with ptsd alongside his remaining squad while jumping through the various hoops onBl's long halftime walk is an at times thoughtful yet ultimately pretentious story following a hero soldiers brief stint as an american medias publicity story for the iraq war effort. We watch as he struggles with ptsd alongside his remaining squad while jumping through the various hoops on the media rally at a football game. Unfortunately even with its gorgeous high frame rate 4k presentation, with an overly saturated hollywood cast to distract, watching this delivers the effective emotional depth of a shallow puddle where it needed a deep pool.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

bamaboomer

Feb 18, 2017

This is a disappointing effort from Ang Lee. a tired re-tread of so many previous movies on the theme of "The American Hero". I cannot see this as more than a technological display melding 60 fps video with 24 fps film. The tech does impress, yet the story left me cold.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Thecollector

Oct 26, 2017

Ang Lee disappoints with what was supposed to be his next Oscar bait. And boy did it fail. Hard. Everything about this movie is just off. From the set, to the actors, with just a few exceptions. Joe Alwyn, was the major miscast of the movie. He does not have the talent and acting chops to beAng Lee disappoints with what was supposed to be his next Oscar bait. And boy did it fail. Hard. Everything about this movie is just off. From the set, to the actors, with just a few exceptions. Joe Alwyn, was the major miscast of the movie. He does not have the talent and acting chops to be the movie's leading man. If a director like Ang Lee cannot direct you in such a way that you can act, you probably just can't act at all and never will. It was better to not introduce Joe Alwyn at all.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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