Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		3.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.5

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman July 4, 2016

In the NATO phonetic alphabet, the letters "W," "T," and "F" are represented by the words "whiskey," "tango," and "foxtrot," which essentially makes this movie's title WTF, as in, well, that one's a little more obvious in contemporary and condensed text and tweet parlance. The film, directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa and based on Journalist Kim Barker's memoir The Taliban Shuffle: Strange Days in Afghanistan and Pakistan, tells the rather sprawling story of an American journalist sent to Afghanistan in 2003, just as the war in Iraq was getting underway. It's the story of her experiences in war, her place in a foreign society, and her comings-and-goings with co-workers, fellow journalists, soldiers, and locals. The film never quite finds its rhythm of purpose, but it makes for a mostly interesting look, at least in spurts, behind the public newscast face of war.

American Journalist Kim Baker (Tina Fey, and the movie does call her "Baker" even if the real person's name is "Barker") is assigned to Afghanistan to cover the war. It's 2003 and the war to the west in Iraq is heating up, leaving her a newcomer in a war that's losing its interest and edge, at least on television back home. In country, she finds herself living in spartan quarters -- her room isn't much more than a crammed dorm for two -- and trying to sleep with the sound of helicopters rumbling overhead and gunfire popping in the distance. She's shadowed by her personal security agent, Nic (Stephen Peacocke), a local guide named Fahim Ahmadzai (Christopher Abbott), and her videographer "Tall" Brian (Nicholas Braun). She's forced to fend off advances by a smooth talking Scottish photographer named Iain MacKelpie (Martin Freeman) and learn the ropes from one of her idols, a competing journalist named Tanya Vanderpoel (Margot Robbie). Her only connection back home comes by way of shaky video chat with her boyfriend Chris (Josh Charles). As she experiences the war firsthand and gains insight from military officers (Billy Bob Thornton) and local community leaders (Alfred Molina) alike, she watches her life change as her stay lengthens in one of the world's most dangerous places.

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot turns in narrative focus for a broader examination of Baker's (Barker's) time in-country, which, beyond a very loosely assembled narrative string, more closely resembles vignettes than it does an arcing tale of personal experience or growth. Even at an overlong (for how it's structured) two hours, the story seems better suited to the source book instead. Pacing is a constant issue, particularly once the film settles into its second and third acts. Its open is borderline terrific. Sustainability, however, is not. At its best, one can see in the film an interesting look at life in war, largely away from the front lines and instead observed, mostly, from a distance, where the cultural impact on one's life is just as unsettling as the impact of bombs and bullets. Audiences interested in snapshot details of the behind-the-scenes life of a war correspondent, the realities away from the thirty-second news feeds, will find some value here. Otherwise, it's more a missed opportunity than it is fulfillment of its potential.

The star of the show is unquestionably Tina Fey, who does her best to sell the movie and the character even when the rather lackluster, somewhat aimless script leaves her hanging. A far cry from her SNL appearances and tied-at-the-hip partner Amy Poehler, Fey's performance finds a personal depth, removed from yuck-yuck laughs and fights to uncover the truth of who her character is, where she's at, and the realities of the largely alien world in which she finds herself. Her ability to more deeply explore is limited by the movie's scattershot approach, but it's a noble effort and one that commands the screen in every scene. Fey is surrounded by several quality support pillars in parts that likewise lack the fuller definition the material demands but that are nevertheless satisfied with strong performances from several screen veterans including Martin Freeman, Alfred Molina, and Billy Bob Thornton.

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot's digital source yields a solid enough, but in no way noteworthy, 1080p Blu-ray transfer. The image captures satisfactory detailing, whether intimate skin and makeup textures or clothes, particularly the heavier-set and more densely constructed military style vests. The more raw, somewhat run down Afghan backgrounds -- buildings, rocks -- present with a fair sense of realistically tangible textural surface definition. Color balance is rather good. The image doesn't often favor the hot, arid sort of push that sometimes over-saturates movies of this nature. Color depth and detail are more neutral, particularly against the predominantly earthy backgrounds that dominate the film. Black levels occasionally favor a very mild push to excess brightness. Noise is bothersome, light at times, spiking significantly at others, and almost always hovering over the image.

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot features an exceptionally potent and invigorating DTS:X soundtrack. This track adds overhead channels to the more standard 7.1 mix. This review is based on an 11.1 setup, which includes four "height" channels in support. The movie opens with a blast of Jump Around that's about as aggressively positioned in the stage and low-end dominant as one will ever hear. The crude sounds of the surrounding party, mixed with the music and the added overhead layer, creates a spectacular sense of place, a bubble of sound that easily replicates the location, particularly when a nearby blast hits and bits of debris fall from the ceiling. The overheads also aid in explosions, heavy plane rattle, choppers buzzing above, and other deep, penetrating elements. There's rarely any discrete top stage sound effects, but the added top layer support structure is top-notch. Even through the movie's most intense sonic moments, clarity remains high while spacing through the other speakers proves aggressive and seamless. Dialogue is the other core driver here, and it's presented with excellent front-center positioning and seamless prioritization, even through the track's more demanding moments.

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot contains deleted and extended scenes and several featurettes. A DVD copy of the film and a voucher for a UV/iTunes digital copy code are included with purchase.

• All In: The Making of Whiskey Tango Foxtrot (1080p, 14:12): Cast and crew discuss the film's origins in the life of reporter Kim Barker, casting decisions, Tina Fey's growth as an actress in a new style of role, creating a realistic military environment, showing respect to the Afghan culture in the film's environmental recreations, and designing a set that feels like Kabul but is actually New Mexico.
• War Reporter: The Real Kim (1080p, 5:15): Kim Barker, author of the book upon which the film is based, details her involvement with the film and her real life experiences in Afghanistan.
• Embedded In Reality (1080p, 6:23): A look at creating a realistic military environment with the involvement of military experts and military assets.
• Wedding Party (1080p, 5:31): Creating an authentic Afghan culture in the making of the wedding scene.
• Laughing Matters (1080p, 4:24): This piece focuses on the frat house style atmosphere of the guest houses in Afghanistan (protected journalist and contractor housing) and how the real life journalists used these places as a way to unwind from the danger of living in a war zone.
• Deleted Scenes (1080p, 5:14 total runtime): Kim and Iain, Daymare, Prison, and Kabul Zoo.
• Extended Scene (1080p, 4:59): An extended look at the The Wedding.

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot is well made and strongly performed, but the movie lacks much beyond its foundation. It's too scattered and lacking in focus, trying to cram years worth of experience in a foreign land, life amongst a smorgasbord of personalities, living each day in harm's way, and amplified personal growth into a two hour film that's in some ways not long enough and that overextends its welcome in others. This is a story better left for the page and written word. The movie isn't without its merits, but the medium, at least as it's utilized here, doesn't allow the material the ample breathing room, fluidity, and depth it deserves. Paramount's Blu-ray release of Whiskey Tango Foxtrot features fair video, terrific audio, and an average allotment of bonus content. Check it out on sale during a slow week.