did anyone else think the last third of the movie ruined it?

I understand what you're saying. The notification scenes were the most powerful moments in the film. Those were my favorite parts as well and there were times where I felt myself yearning for more of those moments. But you couldn't just string together notification after notification. Those wouldn't have made a movie. The parts that were a little slow and not as engaging I thought provided a nice contrast to the very emotionally intense notifications. Those notifications would have lost their impact if they were overdone. So, when that's not happening, we get everyday, low key stuff. Ben Foster flirts with the army widow. He and Woody hang out. They crash his ex-girlfriend's engagement party. It's life. It feels real. It's what you would expect from a couple of army men who just can't fit into society in a normal way anymore. The ending may be a little anti-climatic, but it's real.

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Tears of a rapper...

'i was watching it and really enjoying it, then all of a sudden they stopped delivering notifications and it was just ben foster flirting with that really unattractive girl and woody harrelson acting like a moron. The first hour was amazing and i loved woody's character but he just seemed to become an idiot at the end, he finally started coming back with the last half hour but none the less, idk i just didnt really like it because it ended really anti climatically'

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I totally agree! I was watching it with the first hour telling myself it's a very good movie but suddenly in the homestretch, I feel something weird happened that I can't explain. I was about to give it a nine and changed my mind, giving it a
five only.

http://tinyurl.com/cxfd2u2

I think it lost a bit of momentum after it becomes more about the Foster and Harrelson characters, but it was on such a roll at the beginning that it had my full attention throughout. And I loved the subtle, hopeful ending. At once point this was a perfect film, but it will have to settle for 9/10 from me.

I don't fault the film for resorting to notification scenes sparingly. This is also a film about someone adjusting to being back home from the war. He was lucky to have survived and how he tries to move on is just as much part of the story as it was for the families of the dead soldiers. Besides, the fact that he and Harrelson can get to know one another as friends adds to the character study.

YES!!