VIEWERS ARE CALLING THIS FILM A “MASTERPIECE” — AND MANY SAY IT’S ONE OF THE BEST MOVIES EVER MADE.

The iconic drama The Shawshank Redemption, starring Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman, continues to be hailed by audiences as one of the greatest films in cinema history.

Telling the powerful story of hope, friendship, and survival inside a brutal prison system, the film has built a legendary reputation over the years — with many viewers saying it only gets better every time they watch it.

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‘Masterpiece’ film hailed ‘one of the best war movies ever seen’ is on Netflix

Netflix viewers are calling the film ‘underrated’ and one of the best war films on the platform

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Fans have hailed the war drama a ‘masterpiece’(Image: NETFLIX)

Enthusiasts of military dramas are being encouraged to check out a Netflix film inspired by the real-life experiences of a serviceman during the Iraq conflict. The picture, among numerous war-themed offerings on the streaming platform, is set in 2003 during the conflict’s early stages and centres on Matt Ocre, a young Army Reserve civil affairs soldier.

Having signed up in July 2001 to fund his university education, his unit was assigned the perilous task of fixing a damaged water infrastructure in the hostile village of Baqubah. Written by Chris Roessner, the screenplay draws from his own service as a machine gunner in Iraq’s volatile Sunni Triangle.

Sand Castle, as the film is titled, recounts his wartime journey and features Nicholas Hoult in the principal role. The cast boasts several prominent actors, with Logan Marshall-Green and Henry Cavill appearing as Sergeant Harper and Captain Syverson respectively.

The official synopsis for Sand Castle states: “An inexperienced American private discovers the true cost of war when his unit is sent on a dangerous mission to repair a water pumping station in a rural Iraqi village.”

While the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes shows critics awarding it just a 47 per cent approval rating, home audiences have taken a decidedly different view of the modest score.

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The film is based on real events(Image: NETFLIX)

Viewers rushed to share their opinions online, with many branding it an “underrated” production, whilst heaping acclaim on the cast’s portrayals. Collider praised: “Cavill’s often a much better actor than he’s given credit for, as he proved in the underrated 2017 Netflix film, Sand Castle.

“There’s a value in Cavill taking a chance on this smaller film – he gets to show his darker side, humility, and ability to elevate those around him.

“While there are many films about the Iraq War that have attempted to summarize the lessons learned from the war on terror, Sand Castle has a general sense of bleakness that Cavill latches on to. He gives one of the performances of his career as Captain Syverson, a veteran Special Forces operative who gradually becomes aware of his irrelevance.”

IMDb reviewers have been equally enthusiastic, with jillian_altmann describing it as an “enjoyable and underrated movie”, noting: “Sand Castle (2017) was an amazing depiction of the mental and physical struggles a soldier goes through before, during, and after war.

“The characters showed immense pain, fear, pleasure, exhaustion, etc. which made the film that more believable and authentic. I thoroughly enjoyed this film and am now a fan of the amazing actors and actresses who were cast. Would definitely recommend.”

Another reviewer, Erikw-47823, declared it “one of the best war movies ever seen”, elaborating: “Ever wanted a movie that portrays the life of a platoon of soldiers? Well, here you go, one of the best war movies I’ve ever seen!

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Henry Cavill stars in the film(Image: NETFLIX)

“10/10 by far. This movie has so many incredible features, cast, vehicles and incredibly real explosions. In one scene, there is a big explosion and Private Ocre is thrown to the ground and you can actually hear the way his ears have gone partially deaf for a moment. Overall, greatest movie of 2017!”

Habat described it as a “masterpiece”, saying: “Everything is perfect in this movie, especially the photography, the sound, the blank spaces, the action scenes and the soundtrack. Lots of details have been captured to the point where you can feel yourself immersed in a first-person perspective in the movie.”

The film’s cast also includes Glen Powell as SGT Chutsky and Tommy Flanagan as SGM McGregor.

Sand Castle is available to stream on Netflix now.