Legion of Brothers

There's some bitterness on display, plenty of sadness, and an abundance of camaraderie. But mostly, there's just an impressive frankness - about both tragedies and triumphs.

"Legion of Brothers" is a story of heroism writ bold, but it is also something more.

Viewers may at times be hard pressed to keep track of what exactly is going on, but the essential truths about combat, including post-traumatic stress, are vividly conveyed.

You'll have to wade through several topics to get to the heart of "Legion of Brothers," but once you're there, some intense stories make the effort worthwhile.

Adds valuable context in a way not many others do.

Its up-close portrait of heroic dedication in extreme situations has the dramatic immediacy and air of privileged access to impress both hawks and doves.

A harrowing documentary portrait of the earliest months of the war in Afghanistan, Legion of Brothers meanders in its storytelling but ultimately hits a nerve.