Washington (CAR) Analysis | October 31, 2024 by Reggie Woltz; Image Credit AdobeStock

War movies have a special place in the annals of American cinema. From All Quiet on the Western Front to Platoon to Hurt Locker, the stories that emerge from such massive military engagements are inherently riveting and heart-wrenching. Through the decades, the focus of these stories has trended from glorifying the actions of unquestionable heroes to examining the devastating results of these conflicts. 

Lonesome Soldier picks up the latter tradition and damn-near perfects it. A story of one soldier’s experiences with war, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder  and related coping mechanisms, the film is, in turns, insightful, devastating, and hopeful. Jackson Harlow, played by Alexander Randazzo, is a musician turned accidental soldier and the subsequent losses of his wife, friend, and way of life take heavy tolls upon him. While these tragedies seem incredibly unfair, they are far too common in an age where veterans are so often neglected and forced to turn to drugs in order to deal with their experiences. Therein lies the importance of Lonesome Soldier—an illumination of such struggles that does not demonize their decisions but reveals the truth of the battle that begins after the war has ended. 

Coming in at a tight 109 minutes, the film is so gripping and visceral that it ends before you even have a chance to breathe. This is the byproduct of the holistic technical efforts of a talented crew. Randazzo gives an award-worthy starring performance but John Ashton and Allison McAtee, among others, provide crucial support as well. The music by Sami Csernak slams your emotional chords during the most vulnerable scenes and Saulius Lukosevicius’ cinematography draws in your attention and doesn’t let go. Finally, the writing by Lionel Chetwynd and direction of Nino Aldi serve as the skeleton of a film that is so realistic and relatable that it feels like a story from your grandfather come to life. Except that your grandfather would probably leave out a lot of the information in this film. 

All in all, Lonesome Soldier is nothing if not an essential film for anyone trying to understand the plights of both veteran and addiction-riddled populations (that do not seem to be getting any less relevant today). And while it may be easy to shy away from such tragedies, you will not be sorry for experiencing it. 

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