 Whiskey Tango Foxtrot (2016) SNL alumni Tina Fey steps into the well worn shoes of journalist Kim Barker in Paramount Pictures' adaptation of Barker's memoir The Taliban Shuffle: Strange Days in Afghanistan and Pakistan, which details her years as a reporter in Pakistan & Afghanistan beginning in 2002. Rating: R for pervasive language, some sexual content, drug use and violent war images Genre: Comedy , Drama Directed By: Glenn Ficarra and John Requa Written By: Robert Carlock Runtime: 111 minutes Studio: Paramount Pictures Stars: Tina Fey, Margot Robbie, Martin Freeman, Alfred Molina, Christopher Abbott, Billy Bob Thornton, Nicholas Braun, Stephen Peacocke, Sheila Vand |
The title to this Glenn Ficarra and John Requa production is appropriately using the military alphabet to spell out the abbreviated term for ‘what the fu*k’ – which seems a somewhat fitting description of one news reporter’s extraordinary adventure in Afghanistan to cover the war on terror.
Based entirely on a true story, we delve into the life of Kim Baker (Tina Fey) who is presented with the opportunity of flying to the Middle East and trying her hand at broadcasting, far away (literally) from the monotonous copy she currently writes for others to present. Leaving behind her boyfriend Chris (Josh Charles) she must adapt to a whole new way of life and culture, as the courageous journalist seeks in providing competition to the successful Tanya Vanderpoel (Margot Robbie). Faced with life threatening situations on the front line, the experience also proves to be the making of Kim, who reinvents herself and becomes a focal point of the social life, alongside new friends – and colleagues – such as the charismatic photographer Iain MacKelpie (Martin Freeman).
Fey turns in a commendable display to more than prove her worth as a dramatic actress, while she is fortunate enough to be surrounded by accomplished performers making up the supporting roles. Billy Bob Thornton plays General Hollanek, while both Alfred Molina and Christopher Abbott also star as locals – the latter impressing hugely as arguably the stand-out performer within this endeavor. However their casting does represent a major failing within this title, which is the inclination to hire white, American/English actors to take roles that could, and should have been given to Middle Eastern actors, of which there are many more than adept to do so.
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot also addresses the ingrained sexism that exists within the military – and journalism, for that matter – but it’s never the lead focus of the piece, and while alluded too throughout, the fact it takes something of a back-burner makes it all the more striking, as it shows just ingrained the issue is within the fabric of these vocations and almost how normalized it is too – proving that it’s a problem not limited only to other cultures, but one that’s prevalent a little closer to home, too.
This actually a nice watch, if you haven't seen it you might give it a look
