57
Metascore
8 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 70VarietyRonnie ScheibVarietyRonnie ScheibScotti's amateur camerawork proves strangely compelling.
- 70The New York TimesStephen HoldenThe New York TimesStephen HoldenAt its most provocative, Severe Clear pungently evokes a heroic Marine Corps mystique.
- 70The Hollywood ReporterFrank ScheckThe Hollywood ReporterFrank ScheckIt offers a much needed personal perspective on a subject that is too often reduced to political arguments.
- 70Boxoffice MagazineSara SchieronBoxoffice MagazineSara SchieronSevere Clear provides a view of the early days of the war and reminds you of all the promotion and idealism that conflict came with.
- 60Village VoiceVillage VoiceA potent reminder of how thankless a soldier's job is.
- 60New York Daily NewsElizabeth WeitzmanNew York Daily NewsElizabeth WeitzmanHis first-person perspective is unexpectedly frank as he shares some extremely dark moments -- spurred by increasing anger and doubt -- that civilians rarely get to see.
- 40Like the big-budget thriller “Green Zone,” which is also opening this week, Kristian Fraga’s documentary catapults us back to the chaos of Iraq circa 2003. But instead of action figure Matt Damon, we get garish, staccato images and hard-bitten voiceover from First Lieutenant Mike Scotti.
- 38New York PostKyle SmithNew York PostKyle SmithMuch of this footage might have been illuminating, even fascinating, in 2003. But seven years on, it's ancient history lacking insight, hindsight or a fresh take.