I am not sure why is this movie having so low grade. From my point of view it is pretty much underrated. The 'thriller' genre posted over here might be misleading considering the fact that this is more drama than a thriller. No big thrills, no tones of blood but pretty good drama development. Also pretty good casting except maybe for the main role which doesn't mean that the guy doesn't act well, just that he is not really made for the character he played. Good acting and pretty good directing. The director pretty much looks like someone who hasn't made many movies but is talented and understands very well the concept of the movie development generally speaking. I love the atypical way of developing the characters in his movie where he uses face mimics, glances and silence to express the nature of the dramatic situation rather than bunch of unnecessary words. So, I recommend this movie as pretty interesting and if the director Michael Connors ever read my comment, I want him to know that he should keep up the good work.
11 Reviews
Awol
jotix1001 January 2013
Warning: Spoilers
"Allegiance", which did not receive a wide distribution, played recently at Cinema Village in Manhattan. Not having heard anything about it, we decided to take a look. It turned out to be an interesting experience at the movies that perhaps deserved better because the ensemble cast gathered by, Michael Connors, the creator of this project, who also wrote the screenplay.
At heart, the film's theme focuses on camaraderie,, as well as privilege, in our armed forces. It is 2004, and a division of National Guard is being mobilized to go fight in Iraq, something most the week-end soldiers holding more or less regular lives and jobs, are asked the supreme sacrifice to assist the US forces in that country. Two men are at the center of how their lives will be dramatically altered.
Lieut. Danny Sefton will not accompany his comrades for he has been conveniently transferred to another location which will see no combat because he is the son of an influential politician. The other man affected is Chris Reyes, a trained medic, crucial to the operation. Chris asks for a special dispensation for his son is being treated for cancer. His request is denied. Chris turns to Sefton for help. What follows is an account of how the two men, from different backgrounds will deal with getting Reyes to stay near his sick child.
Seth Gabel plays Danny with conviction. He is torn between his duty, and how he is getting away from the same fate some of his friends will have to face. Bow Wow appears as Reyes, the young man who is being taken against his will without recourse. The best thing in the film is the appearance of Pablo Schreiver as Lieut. Chambers, a veteran of the conflict who is taking Danny's place. This actor keeps showing his great talent in anything he plays.
At heart, the film's theme focuses on camaraderie,, as well as privilege, in our armed forces. It is 2004, and a division of National Guard is being mobilized to go fight in Iraq, something most the week-end soldiers holding more or less regular lives and jobs, are asked the supreme sacrifice to assist the US forces in that country. Two men are at the center of how their lives will be dramatically altered.
Lieut. Danny Sefton will not accompany his comrades for he has been conveniently transferred to another location which will see no combat because he is the son of an influential politician. The other man affected is Chris Reyes, a trained medic, crucial to the operation. Chris asks for a special dispensation for his son is being treated for cancer. His request is denied. Chris turns to Sefton for help. What follows is an account of how the two men, from different backgrounds will deal with getting Reyes to stay near his sick child.
Seth Gabel plays Danny with conviction. He is torn between his duty, and how he is getting away from the same fate some of his friends will have to face. Bow Wow appears as Reyes, the young man who is being taken against his will without recourse. The best thing in the film is the appearance of Pablo Schreiver as Lieut. Chambers, a veteran of the conflict who is taking Danny's place. This actor keeps showing his great talent in anything he plays.
Middling effort in an indie film about soldiers with no war.
t-dooley-69-38691629 April 2015
Warning: Spoilers
This film is actually really very good in places. It is set on an army base where units of the National Guard have been called up and are due to be deployed to an Iraqi war zone. Their erstwhile Lieutenant has used his daddy's political clout to get him a cushy transfer so he can stay Stateside with his fiancée. Meanwhile the unit's paramedic (Reyes)– whose young son has terminal cancer – has been told his permission to stay home has been revoked.
What transpires is the efforts of the guys to do what they think is right in the face of military bureaucratic, indifference. We also have the story of the replacement Lieutenant and some of the back stories of the soldiers involved.
Now I loved the premise and the first third of this film works extremely well. Then we start to get plot holes or contrivances and that is when it starts losing credibility.
May be plot spoiler from here on in!! When Lt. Sefton runs off to the pay phone as his phone has been confiscated. In the previous scene Sgt Reyes was found by being called on his and phone while hiding in the truck and now he seems to have forgotten it is in his pocket. The security around this military base is a few guys with armbands on; No CCTV at all! I mean really, the protocols for prisoner control were never followed. Some of the fight scenes have all the 'blood' put on right at the end and some am dram fisty cuffs at that.
These all occur towards the end and all empathy I had built up started to evaporate, so it went from being really good to OK and then please don't insult my intelligence – I have to say the acting and camera work are mostly good to excellent hence my overall rating.
What transpires is the efforts of the guys to do what they think is right in the face of military bureaucratic, indifference. We also have the story of the replacement Lieutenant and some of the back stories of the soldiers involved.
Now I loved the premise and the first third of this film works extremely well. Then we start to get plot holes or contrivances and that is when it starts losing credibility.
May be plot spoiler from here on in!! When Lt. Sefton runs off to the pay phone as his phone has been confiscated. In the previous scene Sgt Reyes was found by being called on his and phone while hiding in the truck and now he seems to have forgotten it is in his pocket. The security around this military base is a few guys with armbands on; No CCTV at all! I mean really, the protocols for prisoner control were never followed. Some of the fight scenes have all the 'blood' put on right at the end and some am dram fisty cuffs at that.
These all occur towards the end and all empathy I had built up started to evaporate, so it went from being really good to OK and then please don't insult my intelligence – I have to say the acting and camera work are mostly good to excellent hence my overall rating.
noble intentions
Kirpianuscus23 April 2019
A film of noble intentions. From director, scripwriter, actors, characters. Using army life as pretext for a noble message. But this message is not convincing, or realist, or easy accepted by viewer. Sure, the effort for create a dramatic - touching story is lovely. But it does not works . And it is not a real specific guilty. Only the conclusion. But, for view Aidan Quin and appreciate the work of actors for save an easy story, the film deserves some attention.
Propaganda recruitment film
hypernox26 August 2013
Warning: Spoilers
This is a propaganda film about USA military honor.
The movie quality was good (7/10) plot was a bit predictable and moral was IMO bad. Sacrificing yourself for a "greater cause" to help your country aka protecting corporate elites interests is not a moral I share.
I liked the movie until the ending which I was hoping to be different and if they would have had a different one I would have rated it higher.
If you are an American loyalist who likes honor to country over family then this movie is for you, but if you are tired of glory to America recruit to the army now propaganda films like me don't watch it.
The movie quality was good (7/10) plot was a bit predictable and moral was IMO bad. Sacrificing yourself for a "greater cause" to help your country aka protecting corporate elites interests is not a moral I share.
I liked the movie until the ending which I was hoping to be different and if they would have had a different one I would have rated it higher.
If you are an American loyalist who likes honor to country over family then this movie is for you, but if you are tired of glory to America recruit to the army now propaganda films like me don't watch it.
Not much right...
crazynhel-7794526 December 2015
I thought this movie had possibilities. Then the first scene has a Lt. Bribing a sergeant. While I won't say that doesn't happen, it certainly isn't that blatant. The interaction with lower enlisted and officers in the guard is fairly realistic, I find it funny the "active duty" Lt. Doesn't take offense to being called by his first name. The scenes where they are trying to fake the sergeant out by playing poker are pretty close to accurate,a lot of other stuff... Not so much. The new Lt and his getting screwed story sucks. Yeah he saw combat and got wounded. According to this story, that's it. He still had his IRR left. There are way more worse stories about that out there. I personally had to extend a year so I could deploy. Past my 20 years.I missed not deploying by a month, and yet I didn't try some massive trick to get out of it. I went. Anyway, there were possibilities in this movie, but a lot fell flat.
WHERE IS MY REPLACEMENT?
nogodnomasters10 April 2019
Warning: Spoilers
This is a military drama that takes place in 2004. The National Guard is being called up at unprecedented rates to serve in Iraq. This film looks at one unit in New York getting ready to transfer. No one wants to go to Iraq. Some are able to get out of it. Lt. Sefton (Seth Gabel) because of his powerful family connections, is being transferred to another unit and doesn't have to go. He is helping out as a supply officer. His platoon has harsh feelings in the matter.
Meanwhile Reyes, the corpsman is supposed to stay behind because his son has stage 4 cancer and six months to live. This was denied because he is too good at his job. The platoon helps him go AWOL. Sefton is drawn into the action with mixed allegiances.
What makes this a good film is the stark contrast of Sefton's replacement, Lt. Chambers (Pablo Schreiber). He is all duty having been to Iraq before and injured. He broke up with his girlfriend prior to deployment because it wasn't fair to her. He does not question orders. The film questions duty to family and friends vs. duty to country in a war that wasn't important enough to die for. It does so in a subtle manner.
This is not a war film or action film. It is a well acted thriller/drama.
Parental Guide: F-bombs, no sex or nudity.
Meanwhile Reyes, the corpsman is supposed to stay behind because his son has stage 4 cancer and six months to live. This was denied because he is too good at his job. The platoon helps him go AWOL. Sefton is drawn into the action with mixed allegiances.
What makes this a good film is the stark contrast of Sefton's replacement, Lt. Chambers (Pablo Schreiber). He is all duty having been to Iraq before and injured. He broke up with his girlfriend prior to deployment because it wasn't fair to her. He does not question orders. The film questions duty to family and friends vs. duty to country in a war that wasn't important enough to die for. It does so in a subtle manner.
This is not a war film or action film. It is a well acted thriller/drama.
Parental Guide: F-bombs, no sex or nudity.
I pledge...
saumil-nj3 January 2013
This is a small budget independent film that delivers a meaningful storyline and suspense that kept me on the edge of my seat. The plot is believable and the main characters, while simple, have an interesting back-story.
The soundtrack is especially solid and helps the film to build intensity. Additionally, it seems the director chose a monochromatic color/hue which gives the film a unique sense of reality (void of lots of distracting colors...not sure how else to explain it).
If you are interested in watching films with substance and need a change from the big Hollywood blockbusters, I suggest giving Allegiance a try.
The soundtrack is especially solid and helps the film to build intensity. Additionally, it seems the director chose a monochromatic color/hue which gives the film a unique sense of reality (void of lots of distracting colors...not sure how else to explain it).
If you are interested in watching films with substance and need a change from the big Hollywood blockbusters, I suggest giving Allegiance a try.
Not what I was looking for...Much better
freemanpatrick719 June 2013
I ordered this DVD only to see Reshma Shetty act outside of Royal Pains. Unfortunately her role in this movie is minimal. I didn't get to see much. But what I found instead was a really good movie and impressive performances. I won't go into the details of the plot as others have covered that. But the story is well written. The characters are all multifaceted and believable. The good guys aren't all good; the bad guys aren't all bad. Each has a back story that gets delivered to us in due time. Bow Wow (that can't be what's on his birth certificate) gave perhaps the most surprising performance of the whole movie. I'm not one who thinks that every rap artist should be an actor. Mr. Wow is a pleasant exception. I'd look forward to seeing him in other works. Pablo Schreiber has one of those "that guy" kind of faces. Like you know you've seen him before but can't remember where. And that's a huge shame because his performance was all anyone had any right to expect from him. Because of who his brother is he might get over looked but don't make that mistake. Take him on his own merits and enjoy his talents. Reshma Shetty, for her part, performed flawlessly but her role was so minimal that there wasn't much she could do with it. I'd sure like to see more from this woman. Someone should write bigger and better roles for her. Maybe I'll do it myself.
Bottom line: A very good movie.
Bottom line: A very good movie.
tense thriller
normfreimark19 December 2012
I was sitting on the edge of my seat to see how this complex moral dilemma would be resolved. I really enjoyed watching the various pressures felt by the soldiers and the moral ambiguity of some of their positions. Very impressed by Bow Wow's acting and the job done by the whole very believable cast. I forgot I was watching a movie and was totally caught up in the tensions felt by all.
It is nice to see an intelligent military movie thriller which makes the viewer wonder what they would do given the same set of circumstances.
I could see that this movie was true to what it is really like to be called upon to serve your country, wanting to take the safe route out of danger, and having allegiances to family as well as fellow soldiers.
It is nice to see an intelligent military movie thriller which makes the viewer wonder what they would do given the same set of circumstances.
I could see that this movie was true to what it is really like to be called upon to serve your country, wanting to take the safe route out of danger, and having allegiances to family as well as fellow soldiers.
Great Movie
italianabella4224 October 2013
I really enjoyed this movie the whole story line.I thought all the actors did a great job and it is a army movie but a good one. I recommend it to anyone who likes military and suspense movies.Its a must see movie. It has new stars like bow wow who use to rap but he makes a good actor too. It has a lot of older actors as well who are good. It doesn't have bloody gore military war stuff but it is military clean.This movie to me in my opinion and i watch a lot of movies of all Genres this movie is a 10. I don't care what anybody says its excellent to me.Maybe cause I am female and it has a lot of handsome actors but they all did well.
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