The film's premise is that the US has only 18 minutes to decide whether to launch a reprisal strike on the actor who fired the missile. There are heated shots from the White House, the Pentagon, STRATCOM, bombers, air force bases. There are acronyms and Pentagonese-aplenty. 2/

But things fall apart early in the film. Time is compressed (a sub-sonic bomber is launched from CONUS & 4 minutes later is on the other side of the planet; COG is initiated & within 7 minutes Secret Service agents are pulling mid-level bureaucrats out of Starbucks). 3/

Characters are out of central casting: there's the General who presses for an overwhelming nuclear strike bringing about a cataclysmic nuclear war, a handsome young man who seeks to find a diplomatic solution, a distraught SecDef fighting terrible inner demons at the WORST

But worst of all, the film never, ever addresses the critical point: WHY does POTUS need to decide within 18 minutes whether to launch a nuke in response? This is never addressed--because the reality is, there is no need to make that decision in that 18 minute window. 5/

If the US fails to intercept the missile before it detonates, the US can still respond however it wants after the attack. The US still would have virtually its entire nuclear arsenal at its disposal after the attack. Why the enormous pressure (and that's what the film is: a giant

The US can respond hours, days, or even weeks later, once it has had the time to deliberate. But the film never addresses why the choice is being foisted on POTUS. The reason for this is straight forward: A President would NOT have to make such a choice in 18 minutes. 7/

The film tries to have it both ways. It is a Very Serious Film, trying to tackle a Very Serious Issue. But once you start poking holes at the fundamentals of the plot (and the absurdities associated with the time compression), the response is "it's just a Hollywood Movie." 8/

But if its just a "Hollywood Movie" that's not meant to be taken too seriously, there's no real compelling drama, because the scenario is a fantasy. If it's a "Very Serious Film," why the absurdities & inability to address the central issue of why POTUS only has 18 minutes? 9/

In the end, A House of Dynamite can't have it both ways. It can either be a disposable piece of Netflix content to watch on a Wednesday evening and forgotten by Friday morning, not meant to be taken seriously, or it can be A Very Serious Film--but it can't be both. And

@RealBobPeters The Day After ist still the best.

@RealBobPeters Hold my HBO Beer, Bro. 🫧