HBO'S IRAQ WAR SPECIAL EXAMINES THE SUFFERING SOLDIERS.Byline: DAVID David, in the Bible David, d. c.970 B.C., king of ancient Israel (c.1010–970 B.C.), successor of Saul. The Book of First Samuel introduces him as the youngest of eight sons who is anointed king by Samuel to replace Saul, who had been deemed a failure. KRONKE >TV CRITIC Add HBO's documentary "Alive Day Memories: Home From Iraq" to the list of documents that President George W. Bush will not be taking in. Numerous accounts, most recently Robert Draper's new book "Dead Certain," testify that the president cannot be bothered with any negative report on his military strategy that might weaken his resolve to do whatever it is he might want to do. Americans who care about the war's toll on our troops, however, should spend time with "Alive Day Memories," if only to get an infinitesimal in·fin·i·tes·i·mal adj. 1. Immeasurably or incalculably minute. 2. Mathematics Capable of having values approaching zero as a limit. n. 1. glimpse into the sacrifices American troops are making on our behalf, not to mention their epic resolve when they return maimed maim tr.v. maimed, maim·ing, maims 1. To disable or disfigure, usually by depriving of the use of a limb or other part of the body. See Synonyms at batter1. 2. and disfigured dis·fig·ure tr.v. dis·fig·ured, dis·fig·ur·ing, dis·fig·ures To mar or spoil the appearance or shape of; deform. [Middle English disfiguren, from Old French desfigurer , both physically and psychologically. It's a film concise in its simplicity: James Gandolfini James R. Gandolfini (born September 18, 1961) is a three-time Emmy award winning American actor known for multifaceted portrayals of conscientious yet often inherently sinister characters. of "The Sopranos" interviews 10 members of the Army and the Marines who should be dead today, but somehow survived -- their "Alive Day" is the day they somehow escaped dying. One interviewee, Bryan Anderson
Bryan Anderson (born March 30, 1980) is an American football offensive guard. He was a seventh round pick (261 overall) by the Chicago Bears in the 2003 NFL Draft. , pointedly takes issue with the whole notion: "We're celebrating the worst day of my life -- great." Survival, tragically, does not come without its costs. Those Gandolfini speaks with suffer from traumatic injuries: amputations, brain injuries or psychological disorders. One soldier's injury cost him both his eyesight and his marriage; his glass eye carries the diamonds from his wedding band. His interviews are juxtaposed jux·ta·pose tr.v. jux·ta·posed, jux·ta·pos·ing, jux·ta·pos·es To place side by side, especially for comparison or contrast. with footage of the injured before they were attacked, underscoring their life force, contrasting that to who they are today. Each story is untellingly moving in its own way. The interviewees all have their own ways of coping with their fate -- some inspirational, some saddening -- but no one will remain untouched by Dawn Halfaker, an Army lieutenant who wanted to prove she was tough, yet lost an arm and shoulder. The haunted expression on her face when she considers her future is heartbreaking enough to give the paltry 30 percent of the country who still believe the war was a good idea a moment's pause to genuinely consider the human toll. David Kronke, (818) 713-3638 david.kronke@dailynews.com www.insidesocal.com/tv/ ALIVE DAY MEMORIES: HOME FROM IRAQ - Three and one half stars >What: James Gandolfini interviews 10 Iraq war veterans who narrowly escaped death. >Where: HBO Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) A form of oxygen therapy in which the patient breathes oxygen in a pressurized chamber. Mentioned in: Ozone Therapy . >When: 10:30 tonight; also 9 p.m. Thursday, 3 a.m. Friday. >In a nutshell: Tragically compelling. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Bryan Anderson |
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