Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		1.0
Overall		3.5

Lebanon Blu-ray Movie Review

A perfect War film.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman January 12, 2011

Man is steel. The tank is only iron.

"Lebanon." A three-syllable word, rather complex for a string of but seven letters. For most, those seven letters and three syllables aren't much more than a spot on a map, a sound byte on the news, or a term on a geography test, even considering the critical moments in history -- the wars fought, the lives lost, the powers risen and fallen, and the people behind it all -- that have helped shape a world politic in countless ways. Now, "Lebanon" is a movie title, again one that's rather simple but full of wonderful complexities, the film a harrowing recount of a four-man tank crew in the early hours of the Israeli invasion of the country in the early 1980s. A pivotal moment in history and now a timeless War picture that's as riveting as it is heart-wrenching, as well-made as it is historically important, Director Samuel Maoz's Lebanon is a superbly-crafted movie that takes its audiences into the heart of warfare for an up-close-and-personal look at the terrors of modern combat from several unique perspectives, notably the psychological turmoil of a war fought even from inside the seemingly impenetrable body of an iron beast.

War.

It is June 6, 1982, 3:00 AM. The Israeli invasion of Lebanon is underway, and spearheading the assault is a four-man tank crew flanked by a dozen paratroopers. Their mission: to accomplish a dozen tasks in three weeks, the first of which is to secure a town already devastated by Israeli airpower hours before the ground assault. One of the paratroopers, Jamil (Zohar Shtrauss), is in command of the operation. Inside the tank is its commander, Assi (Itay Tiran); the driver, the young Yigal (Michael Moshonov); the gunner, Shmulik (Yoav Donat); and the loader, Herzl (Oshri Cohen). Even before the beginning of the mission, tempers flare and the chain of command within the tank is questioned. As the crew's short rest period comes to an end and their experiences in a life-altering war begin, tensions mount with every stroke of the engine, every inch of Lebanese soil traversed. It's not long before their first encounter; an unknown vehicle fails to stop, and the tank is ordered to destroy it; the crew hesitates, and in the ensuing firefight an Israeli paratrooper is killed. A second vehicle soon thereafter approaches; it's destroyed instantly but is found to be driven by a now-gravely wounded civilian hauling only livestock. So begins the men's experience in war, an experience that will see them challenged beyond their limits both physically and emotionally and for forevermore.

In Lebanon, viewers quickly learn that the dangers of warfare and the resultant damage to the human body isn't limited to shots fired and shots received. The pull of the trigger is as difficult as any task presented to a solider, and it's oftentimes the psychological trauma -- before or after that pull of the trigger -- that hurts more that any real or potential physical injuries. Lebanon is a wonderfully unique motion picture that in no way glorifies war. It's an ugly picture recounting an ugly series of events, events that try a man's mind, heart, and soul as much as, if not more so than, his physical endurance and preparedness. The film deals with the terrors of war from the perspective of men expected to follow orders unflinchingly; though they may be hidden behind the belly of an iron tank, their humanity remains, humanity that doesn't allow them to accept war and all its consequences with the emotional detachment that seems expected of them. Lebanon is a complex study of average men thrust into extraordinary circumstances, and shows that man doesn't always rise to the occasion -- or does he? Where is the line between robotically following orders and placing greater import on what one man, or in this case a group of men, perceive as being right or wrong? What are the consequences, particularly considering that other men's lives depend on the choices this group makes? Lebanon is a film of questions, one that personalizes combat and allows viewers to practically sit inside the tank and make such life-and-death decisions that could ultimately have consequences that reach further than and well beyond their own internal and external struggles.

What makes Lebanon such a rousing success even beyond its psychological connotations is its no-nonsense attitude. Here is a movie that, like Saving Private Ryan before it, pulls no punches with its depiction of war. This picture may not be quite as graphic as Steven Spielberg's masterpiece, but the physical representation of violence clearly plays second fiddle to the emotional consequences of war. Lebanon doesn't shy away from the analysis of the impact of grisly imagery either on the men in the tank or the viewers in the audience. The film so effortlessly pulls the viewer into the action that the life-and-death decisions; the disagreements; and the wars that are raging inside the men's souls, around the interior of the tank, and in the shattered world around them seem all too real, and indeed, the picture feels far more horrific than it actually is because of its effectiveness in translating the entirety of the war experience -- not only the violent after-effects -- for its audience. Few films are capable of achieving such a dramatic sense of realism as this; even the language barrier disappears in favor of the rawness of the whole experience. Lebanon transcends time and tongue in favor of its bold but chilling yet necessary approach to wartime filmmaking. It's a glorious but grotesque picture, one that must be seen but also understood.

Rounding Lebanon into form is the periphery elements that emphasize both the physical brutality and the harrowing emotional turmoil evident throughout the film. Lebanon manages to make its every set -- whether the interior of the tank or several physical exterior locations -- into impeccably-dressed wartime locales. The various bombed-out and bullet-riddled buildings, as well as all of the other seemingly random but mood-critical elements are all perfectly situated and help bring about the chilling and unquestionably difficult world of war necessary in furthering the picture's primary psychological elements. Lebanon creates several memorable locations, many of which are seen only through the crosshairs of the tank's sighting system, that only reinforce the deadly internal and external consequences of war. Director Samuel Maoz also manages to make the interior of the tank big enough to house all of the personal drama and physical action while also making the audience feel like a participant inside the beast. At the same time, it's small enough to greater emphasize the dangers -- the physical and emotional strains -- by highlighting the limited options at hand and the dependency of man on himself and on both one another and on the tank itself. Finally, Lebanon's cast is exemplary; from the moment the tank crew appears on-screen, they disappear into their roles as they play against one of the film's opening and most critical shots that's of a few words printed on the inside of the tank: "Man is steel. The tank is only iron." The former will be challenged throughout, not its literal interpretation, but rather, and more importantly, its symbolic one.

Lebanon Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Lebanon's 1080p transfer is delightfully gritty. Sony's Blu-ray release captures the visual intensity and inherent griminess of Lebanon very well. Shadow detail -- critical in the dark confines of the tank -- excels with every opportunity. Detail is fantastic, too; though the film is gritty and oftentimes dark, the Blu-ray allows all of the tank -- whether instrument gauges or the grime, dents, scratches, and general wear-and-tear on its metallic surfaces -- to sparkle in high definition. The transfer also nicely reproduces facial detail and the texture of uniforms while also capturing the violence and destruction that's visible outside the tank -- seen primarily through the crosshairs -- with pinpoint clarity, at least insofar as the material allows and the director intends. Colors are quite good, though intentionally dulled. Daylight exteriors, again seen primarily through the tank's weapons system, sport a balanced palette, and flesh tones retain an honest neutrality. The image is covered in a rather thick layer of grain, but banding, noise reduction, or other visual eyesores are nowhere to be found. This is a strong transfer from Sony that captures the picture's deliberately messy visuals incredibly well.

Lebanon Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Lebanon's Hebrew DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack (with accompanying English subtitles) is one of the best on the market. A destructive, potent, and incredibly loud and challenging experience, Sony's audio presentation effortlessly transports listeners into the metallic belly of the tank and into a modern warzone. Though a few strokes of the piano sounds a bit harsh and mushy -- perhaps intentionally so -- as heard during the film's opening and closing shots, the remainder of the track is nothing short of a sonic marvel. The heavy, rattling, clanking sounds of the tank seem incredibly precise; the rumbling of the engine and the screeching sound effects fill the soundstage with deadly precision. Background radio chatter often completes the experience. Gunfire erupts from all over the soundstage with marvelous precision; whether emanating from the tank's heavy machine gun or the soldiers outside, the shots add a startlingly real and terrifying sensation to the track. Incoming fire -- the sounds of rounds clanking off the tank's exterior -- are also handled with frightening accuracy. Several directional and room-filling effects -- a zooming jet fighter representing the former, a hovering helicopter the latter -- add thunderous power to an already exhilarating track. Dialogue is precisely centered and infinitely clear. The sounds of war are heard all around the soundstage; this commanding and oftentimes paralyzing track is the perfect compliment to the film's visuals and themes.

Lebanon Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Lebanon is disappointingly short in its extra content. A behind-the-scenes piece is the one and only highlight.

• Notes on a War Film (480p, 24:24): This Hebrew-language (with English subtitles) piece takes viewers on a candid behind-the-scenes look at the making of Lebanon from several perspectives and through several scenes.
• Lebanon Theatrical Trailer (1080p, 2:12).
• Previews (1080p): Trailers for additional Sony Blu-ray releases.

Lebanon Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Lebanon ranks among the genre greats. Winner of the Golden Lion at the 66th Venice International Film Festival, Lebanon is an important, well-made, and psychologically challenging motion picture that's sure to disturb audiences in the way it so effortlessly recreates both the personal inner turmoil and the physical brutality of war. It takes no sides other than to proclaim that war is indeed hell, whether on foot or in the confines of a tank, whether in terms of the physical damage wrought or the inner damage done before, during, and after hostilities. Sony Pictures Classics Blu-ray release of Lebanon is unfortunately absent the thorough supplemental selection the film demands, but the technical presentation is above reproach. Even considering the shortage of extras, Lebanon comes very highly recommended.