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Review by davidehrlich ★★

An absurdist glimpse at workaday life within one of the very real, very strange U.S. military training grounds where role-players simulate foreign battlegrounds in order to prepare our troops for their time in the field, Hailey Gates’ “Atropia” is hardly the first American comedy set during the Iraq War, which was something of a terrible farce unto itself. Well-trodden territory as this might be, however, it’s been a long time since beloved masterpieces like “Whiskey Tango Foxtrot” and Larry the Cable Guy’s “Delta Farce” first put their stamp on the sub-genre, and the years gone by have made it possible for Gates’ feature debut — expanded from her 2020 Miu Miu short, “Shako Mako” — to go further through the…

Review by Benjigotfried ★★★

We are back at it again with Sundance Film Festival online! We are starting off very solid! I am pretty mixed on this right now, but there is a lot to enjoy from this! Alia Shawkat is absolutely fantastic in this! Callum Turner gives one of his best performances yet! Hailey Gates does a great job directing this, but unfortunately I didn't care a lot about the screenplay. This movie is shot very well. The pacing feels very off at times. I cannot wait to watch more movies for Sundance in the next few days!

Sundance Film Festival 25
2025 Ranked 
The 2025 Benji Gotfried Awards Nominations 

1

Shawkat’s character doesn’t make much sense and the film has plenty of moments to dive into her story / motivations but misses all of them. What does this romance give her? Why does she choose to be in this simulation? The movie often tones down the humor to focus on the central romance but there’s not much to glean from it.

It’s pretty funny in parts and the premise is creative, finding plenty of fun situations. Shawkat is a great presence here. For a war satire it’s surprisingly tame and ultimately it didn’t have a strong comedic voice. Perhaps could have benefitted from more improv?

Review by Ella Kemp ★★★

Kinda fascinating, a 3* of real extremes. Love the originality and the wit, and the commitment (on a lot of different levels). Tonally it hopscotched a bit too much (good for entertainment, less for actual purpose) to really hit home but it’s still a hell of a debut (?!). Phantom Planet hive come on in.

1

wouldn’t be Sundance without an absurdist cringe comedy where a character talks about how he gets hard every time he smells shit

Review by Evasive ★★★½

Westworld for guys who play Call of Duty

Review by Rendy Jones ★★½ Liked

Callum Turner washing Alia Shawkat like a dirty dish wasn’t on my 2025 bingo card and ooh was it steamy. I get it, Dua. I see the vision girl.

2

alia shawkat singing The O.C. theme song >>>>>

Review by john ★★½

Great concept. Super bizarre execution.

Review by Matt Neglia ★★½

ATROPIA contains a clever premise and plenty of sharp humor relating to the Iraq War, but it lacks bite and focus with the laughs coming in too infrequently. Alia Shawkat does everything she can to make this a fun time but she’s let down by the writing for her character with conventional dramatic beats don’t quite land. I appreciate the swing though from filmmaker Hailey Gates as war satire is quite difficult to pull off well but this one loses quite a bit of momentum by the end.

1

I can’t believe this is the feature directorial debut of the woman who played “Drugged-out Mother” in Twin Peaks: The Return. 119!

Review by thomas. ★★★★★ Liked

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