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Sand Castle is a war film that premiered on Netflix in 2017. The movie was directed by Fernando Coimbra and is based on a true story. The plot of the movie follows a group of American soldiers who are tasked with repairing a water system in a small Iraqi village. The protagonist of this movie is Matt Ocre, a young private played by Nicholas Hoult. He is part of a squad of soldiers that includes Sergeant Harper (Logan Marshall-Green), Sergeant Baker (Henry Cavill), and others. The movie begins with the squad, which is stationed in Iraq, receiving orders to repair a broken water main in an Iraqi village that has been destroyed by war.

At the start of the movie, Matt is hesitant to leave the base, but his commanding officer forces him to join the mission. The squad arrives in the village to find that the locals are hostile towards them. They face resistance from the local leader of the village, who is reluctant to let them fix the water main.

Despite this, the squad is determined to complete their mission. Over time, Matt starts to gain the respect of some of the villagers, who begin to cooperate with the squad. However, as the squad continues their mission, they find themselves caught in a complex web of politics, alliances and rivalries between the Iraqi factions.

The movie is set during the Iraq War, and it depicts the brutal reality of life for both civilians and soldiers in the region. The characters in the movie face the constant threat of attack from insurgents, and the film shows the impact these attacks have on both the soldiers and the local population. The film does not shy away from showing the full horrors of war, and the audience is left with a deep sense of sadness at the loss of life and destruction.

The film's performances are strong across the board, but it is Nicholas Hoult who takes center stage. He portrays the character of Matt Ocre with nuance and sensitivity. The character's internal struggle between his duty and his conscience delivers an emotional undercurrent to his performance. The supporting cast, including Logan Marshall-Green and Henry Cavill, also deliver solid performances, but they are often overshadowed by Hoult's standout performance.

The movie's sets and cinematography are impressive, and the filmmakers capture the stark beauty and the tragedy of the Iraq landscape. The sets and costumes are all carefully crafted, transporting the audience right into the heart of the warzone. The filmmakers have further enhanced this by making use of natural light and creating visually stunning landscapes that contrast sharply with the violence and chaos that is ever-present throughout the movie.

Despite its many strengths, Sand Castle, however, is not without its flaws. The movie at times struggles to find its narrative footing, as the story meanders through various subplots and political conflicts. The film takes its time to explore the complexities of Iraq's political situation, but in doing so it loses some of its momentum. The movie also lacks a strong sense of urgency, making it feel at times like more like a series of vignettes than a cohesive story.

Overall, Sand Castle is a moving, thought-provoking movie that confronts the viewer with the ugly reality of war. With fantastic performances by its cast and gorgeous cinematography, the filmmakers have created a compelling portrayal of the horrors of life during the Iraq War. Despite some pacing issues, the movie is still well worth watching.

Sand Castle is a 2017 war movie. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.3 and a MetaScore of 45.