Memorial Day

What a movie! This movie isn't just a story about two wars but how both those wars affected the lives of two people. James Cromwell (Bud Vogel)is at his very best and his son John Cromwell (younger Lt. Bud Vogel)is what many would say is "a chip off the old block". Jackson Bond plays the young grandson Kyle Vogel while Jonathan Bennett plays Kyle as a grown man. The acting and portrayal of the participants is superb in every detail.

The story deals with flashbacks of war and torment and drives home the need to understand. It may be hard for me to tell you about the movie without spoiling it for you so I won't get into too much detail other than to tell you to sit down in a quiet room and watch this movie with an open mind and heart. Saving Private Ryan brought a tear to these old eyes of mine and I have to admit the same thing happened to me while watching this movie. So a box of tissues may be an added item to have nearby.

Well directed, excellently photographed, superbly acted this well scripted movie is a mover - and that's what I watch films for, to be moved, to be taken to another place in my imagination or experiencing that can release feelings and emotions within me that touch upon the core of my 'humanness'. This film performs this task, and more, beautifully. I watched it 4 nights ago and have since watched 3 more movies, yet I find myself consistently and continually being drawn back into Memorial Day. My memory keeps thrusting this back into my consciousness. There are some wonderfully subtle family moments, ebbs and flows, currents and undercurrents, that are so honestly representative of most families. The family setting is very recognizable for most people. I am 68 and I can recognize many characters I have known in this film.They are clearly identifiable. It is,thankfully,not a 'shock and awe' film, but rather a very believable journey through the experiencing of 3 generations and the determined power of children to seek answers.Memorial Day is truly memorable.

This was a family story as much as a war story, mostly watchable due to the performances from James and John Cromwell. It does its best to tug at your heartstrings and make you feel for the characters, and ultimately I wish I had liked it more because Memorial Day has an important message to tell.

The story is filled with flashbacks starting when a 12 year old Kyle discovers his grandfathers footlocker from WW2 and asks him about his time during the war. "Bud" is still wracked with grief and struggles, reluctant to talk about it. Eventually though an aging James Cromwell shares a story about one of the items from the footlocker, taking us back to Europe where his real life son James plays his part. -Wow do they ever look alike.

Flip flopping back and forth we also follow a grown up Kyle who uses the wisdom from his grandfather while serving his own tour in Iraq. I did enjoy the modern battle scenes here, I thought they were well done. Ultimately this did bring a lump to my throat and James Cromwell kind of breaks your heart it just wasn't fantastic or anything. 11/9/15

First and foremost let me preface this review by saying I love independent films and war films. This film has four main actors, and they all did a marvelous job making their characters extremely believable and real. But, what makes this movie unmistakably good is that it makes you feel. There is no way you can not watch this movie and not feel for the grandfathers condition, or the trials and tribulations that that Kyle Vogel, and Bud Vogel. But, maybe most importantly this film forces us to look at what war is. This film shows that regardless of how much war has changed, in many ways it has not changed. There is still death, loss, and moral struggles. That at some point we all must come to terms with. This is a movie that I would recommend with flying colors, but I am skeptical of this movies re-watch value because once the moral issues have been lay-ed out there is not much else to this movie.

Memorial Day is not meant to be a "war" movie, it is a Veteran's story. Made with Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans, the intent was to convey to our families and friends the impact on the soul of going to war. It is not meant to glorify war, everyone who goes there comes back a lesser person in some ways. Enlightened yes, but all too often hardened also. Being a Veteran of several campaigns I don't see myself ever opening up to my immediate family but someday with time and a bit of distance from those tours of duty will be able to relate some of it to grandchildren as "Bud" Vogel/actor James Cromwell, the Grandfather in the movie did.

This movie was helped by a lot of really good people helping to make it this far, and graced by historically significant WWII aircraft. The P38 Lightning is one of only a half dozen flying in the world, the P51 Mustang is one of only a handful that actually flew combat missions in WWII. Fagen Fighters of Granite Falls, Minnesota must be thanked for that. It was made with the invaluable contribution of the WWII Historical Reenactment Society, and many local MN Iraq Veterans used as background actors. It is a story of great significance, and if we can get it told I feel it will do immeasurable good in helping Veterans and their families come to terms with our current return to civilian life. And not least of all, it is a respectful homage to our passing WWII Veterans. In 10 yrs they will all virtually be gone. Our hopes are that the movie will help them, and Veterans of all wars, pass on their first hand experiences and witness to history.