What Happened to the Mid-Budget War Film?

I am old enough to remember when we got at least one theatrical war movie a year, and maybe even a couple more indies that got a limited release. These were often disguised as action movies or another genre, and usually gave an actor a chance to get their face seen by a lot of people, or a director a chance to show their teeth before demanding a higher budget. Examples include The Hurt Locker (2008), Three Kings (1999), and even Platoon (1986). These films relied on gritty realism and morally complex screenplays to draw in audiences. Sometimes, they made big bucks at the box office and could b

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