When I was a young man, the legal drinking age was 18. That meant that a good chunk of teenagers could go out to the bars while still in high school. Admittedly, this caused some problems. I should know; I was one of them.
When I was 20 years old, the state of Vermont changed the drinking age to 21, but grandfathered in anyone who had already been classified as legal. That meant that a select group of young people (of which I was a part) could enter bars while legally underage. Those of us in that group considered ourselves lucky.
I remember being nervous when I first entered the bar/nightclub scene. One minute I’m sleeping over at a friend’s house sneaking beers in his garage, and the next minute I’m at a club trying not to become the target of a displeased 30-year-old who’d just been dumped.
My older brother had been a bartender and bouncer and had forewarned me about the pitfalls and hazards in the club scene. He was all about looks and presentation, so it was imperative to him that his little brother act accordingly. But more than anything, he didn’t want to see me get my ass kicked.
First of all, he was adamant about my beverage selection. “Don’t you dare walk into a bar and order a wine cooler or pina colada,” he said pointedly. “Order a damn Budweiser – like a man!”
And so, I dutifully did as he said without putting much thought into it. I didn’t mind Budweiser, so it wasn’t a big deal, but in hindsight, it restricted me from trying other spirits that may have been more to my liking. I also unconsciously looked down on any guy who chose one of the aforementioned “ladies’” cocktails. (Oddly, I don’t drink Budweiser anymore – I prefer bourbon – but on the rare occasion when I do, the taste immediately brings a smile to my face.)
My brother also insisted that I keep my wits about me when clubbing. Young men and alcohol can be a volatile combination. Not only can people take things wrong when under the influence, but some individuals will go out of their way to set someone straight, given the slightest indiscretion. “Don’t go popping off,” he’d tell me, “even if you think you’re right.
And long before it was understood that you never leave your drink unattended, my brother enlightened me to that point. Nowadays, people are concerned about someone spiking their drink with narcotics, but back in my day, the concern was less pharmaceutical and more bodily. “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen a fight erupt because someone relieved themselves into someone else’s beverage,” he warned. Just the thought of that possibility kept the Budweiser bottle firmly in my grasp.
I was also conscious about how I dressed when out on the town. My brother rarely commented on my attire, which wasn’t surprising given that I modeled my style after him. Jeans were a prerequisite, along with Timberland boots (untied), and a colorful rugby shirt. That may seem laughable, but it was hard to find a guy not wearing that combination at the time.
Thankfully, I never got into many drunken brawls as a young man. Like my older brother, my demeanor was relaxed and non-threatening, so I tended to be friends with a wide array of people. And when a situation did erupt, I was either the first one to defuse it, or the guy who relied on his best friend (who happened to be bigger and tougher than most) to make things right.
Eventually, the bar scene faded in interest. A girlfriend and job meant that I had different places to spend my time and money. But the memories of those days still loom large. A sip of a certain beverage or the melody of a particular song can bring it all back, making it seem like those were the best days of my life.
This week’s feature, “Warfare,” is sort of like navigating a bar in the 1980’s, except 1,000 times scarier and deadlier.
Set during the Iraq War in 2006, “Warfare” embeds the viewer with a Navy Seal platoon as they locate cover during an intense firefight. What transpires is a real-time boots-on-the-ground story of brotherhood and battle fatigue.
This is a tough film to watch, and certainly not for the faint of heart. However, the intensity and tightness of the story also make it a commanding, visceral undertaking.
Check this one out if you’re a fan of war dramas—it’s got it all and then some. And while the genre has been overwrought with selections for many years, this is easily one of the best.
An explosive “B+” for “Warfare,” now playing in theaters everywhere.
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