Diagonaldi Very well executed

Grimossfer Clever and entertaining enough to recommend even to members of the 1%

ChampDavSlim The acting is good, and the firecracker script has some excellent ideas.

Allison Davies The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

Cliff Sloane The title is from the literal meaning of the term "jihad," which is explained during a memorable sermon. It is also very appropriate, as all the main characters are in the midst of such an internal struggle, not just Hassan.Many other user comments say what I was going to say, so let me just offer some insights that will help those who have already seen it.*** Spoilers **** Hassan's struggle is obvious. He has to fight his affection for Sayeed, his memories of his youth with Duri, his gratitude for the help of Sayeed's American friends, etc. In fact, there is a subtle struggle when he first studies Grand Central Station and admires its beauty.Sayeed is struggling to balance being Pakistani vs. being American. Until Hassan came, the choice was easy.Duri, faced with disrespect from her American life, is re-evaluating what she may have lost in coming to America.Khalid's struggle is quite obvious as well. We do not see how his betrayal of Hassan plays out in his heart, though.The family is then faced with the greatest struggle, that provoked when Sayeed is hauled off as a suspect. THey have been betrayed too, the way Hassan was in the movie's beginning.I found this to be an intelligent, compassionate and nuanced movie, and a thriller to boot. I think, if I do a movie class again, I'll show this along with Santosh Sivan's Terrorist. 9/10

gradyharp THE WAR WITHIN is a profoundly disturbing movie while at the same time a film that should be seen by as wide an audience as possible. Wearing blinders in an era when terrorism is such a threat does not make fear go away. Learning the mindset of those who perpetrate terrorist acts provides some invaluable insights that may, just may, reduce the schism between factions that in reality are simply separate groups with profound beliefs and fears.Hassan (Ayad Akhtar, who co-wrote the script) is a Pakistani, American-educated youth in Paris for graduate training when he is abducted in the streets of Paris as a suspect dissident. Transported to Pakistan and incarcerated in a small cell with another victim Khalid (Charles Daniel Sandoval) the two survive brutal interrogations and torture at the hands of Americans for information they do not have. The story then jumps three years forward, finding a radically different, bruised Hassan returning to America hidden in a ship's container. His experiences have changed him to a religious Islamic devotee and he joins a terrorist cell in New Jersey to take part in terrorist suicide bombings of New York City. Hassan visits his dear friend Sayeed (Firdous Bamji) and his family and sister with whom Hassan, though attracted, cannot pursue for religious reasons. The family notes Hassan's mental changes and grows concerned for him, eventually finding out about his terrorist intentions.The inner workings of the terrorist cell bring much light as to the religious drive toward martyrdom, and slowly we begin to understand Hassan's motivations and convictions - a fact that allows us to find compassion for a soul driven to acts of violence and extinction. It is terrifying but at the same time desperately moving.The film's script is multilingual with subtitles when English is not spoken, but there is a major problem with the soundtrack in that much of the dialogue is so soft or whispered that it simply cannot be heard - and the dialogue is important. Director Joseph Castelo paces this dark story well, allowing the inner thoughts of each of the varied characters to emerge gradually. The cinematography is appropriately toned and the acting is absolutely first rate. THE WAR WITHIN goes beyond the realm of a terrorist story and personalizes the individual wars within each of us in this time of global chaos. For one of the first times we are allowed to see how sensitive young people can metamorphose into suicide bombers, and observing that transformation is heartbreaking. A brilliant little film and one Highly Recommended. Grady Harp

yojimbo999 I always love reading reviews of anti-American movies by anti-American Americans who will almost always claim a movie is "brillaint" and "needs to be seen" just as long as the story has a string of anti-Americanism in it.America is bad! Bush is evil! The world would be a better place without America in it! The only thing missing from "The War Within"? Poor Muslim children being beaten with clubs by Evil American CIA agents. What, don't you know? All CIA agents are eeeeeeeeeeeeeevil. Why, if it wasn't for America and the CIA, the world would be one big happy village! A regular campfire where we could all roast marshmellows and whatnot.Remember, kids, Muslims Good, Americans Bad! CIA Evil! Bush dumb! Brilliant!

BrookeWLynne77 This movie was scary and amazing. It made me realize that we are all immigrants in this beautiful country. And it made me proud to be an American. The Pakistani-American family in this movie are so beautiful. They looked beautiful and they made me feel like they could have been my own family. It made me wonder about my own friends. I can't comment on the politics. Some days I feel like I know exactly what my president is saying and I believe him. Some days I feel like I want to kick him. But whatever the truth is, as far as the politics goes, the bottom line is this movie showed the destruction of a beautiful family for no fault of theirs. And that was so compelling to watch. I highly recommend this movie for all Americans. It will make you remember that ALL our parents came over here to find something better for them and theirs.