By Keith Walther | Rose Law Group Reporter
Guy Ritchie rebounds in a big way after his lackluster effort with last month’s “Operation Fortune: Ruse de guerre.” His name is in the title not due to ego, but to rightfully avoid confusion with 2006’s “The Covenant,” one of the worst films of that year. “Guy Ritchie’s the Covenant” is a high intensity action thriller with meaning that focuses on an often-overlooked aspect of the war on terror that spanned 20 years in Afghanistan.
During the war against the Taliban, the US military employed over 30,000 Afghan interpreters. Master Sergeant John Kinley (Jake Gyllenhaal) is tasked with finding Taliban weapon caches, specifically IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices). Kinley hires Ahmed (Dar Salim) to be his unit’s interpreter as they follow up on intel and go door to door in small villages hunting the Taliban. When they hit paydirt on one particular mission, an ambush leaves Kinley severely injured.
Ahmed risks everything to save the sergeant’s life, transporting him many miles through difficult mountainous terrain and eluding the numerous Taliban patrols that control the area. As Kinley recovers from his injuries stateside, he learns that Ahmed and his family were never given safe passage to America as part of the deal the hired interpreters were given. The enraged sergeant, who owes his life to Ahmed, makes it his personal mission to ensure that the promise is kept, and Ahmed and his family are transported to safety, even if that means putting himself back in the line of fire.
While the characters and storyline may be fictional, it is rooted in actual events. From the very opening moments of the film, writer/director Guy Ritchie returns to form with this stirring depiction of courage and tenacity. He shines a glaring spotlight on the broken promises made to the hired interpreters, resulting in many of them being executed as traitors when the Taliban immediately regained control of Afghanistan after the US pulled its troops. This eye-opening, meaningful story is well crafted with Ritchie depicting it in his signature stylistic approach.
Ritchie incorporates adaptive and creative cinematography that heightens the feelings he wants the audience to experience during specific scenes. For instance, he switches to a handheld camera shot during the battle sequences to enhance the level of chaos and bring viewers closer to the reality of war. As a side note, this may cause a bit of dizziness for the more sensitive viewers, especially on a larger screen. Coupled with well-detailed art direction and set pieces, Ritchie’s dedication to accuracy successfully transports his audience to life in Afghanistan.
The big mistake that keeps this film from being a serious early Oscar contender lies in the editing room. This is a two-hour movie that feels more like three hours, which means there are points throughout that are unnecessary and drag excessively. Case in point are the numerous scenes depicting the interpreter lugging the incapacitated sergeant through the mountains. It’s understandable that Guy Ritchie wanted to convey the sense of hardship the interpreter goes through to save the soldier’s life, but this could have easily been achieved with fewer, more impactful scenes.
Jake Gyllenhaal is one of the more underrated actors in Hollywood, and he once again gives a stirring performance. His commitment to accuracy and adding character depth leads to a seamlessly natural and believable portrayal of an army sergeant. It helps that he’s had plenty of experience in these types of roles, such as his critically acclaimed work in 2005’s “Jarhead.”
The other star of this film is not as widely known. Dar Salim is an Iraqi born actor who is mostly recognized from the ever-popular TV series, “Game of Thrones.” He is riveting as the Afghan interpreter who occasionally bucks authority but is ultimately loyal. He successfully rallies the audience’s favor, capturing their emotional investment into his character. This is the kind of performance that could put the 45-year-old actor on the map.
“Guy Ritchie’s the Covenant” is everything you could want out of a war movie: explosive action, heart racing suspense, a compelling story with heroic characters, and an impactful message that will leave a lasting impression. As the summer quickly approaches, this movie could easily get lost in the sea of upcoming blockbusters, so don’t miss the chance to watch this on the big screen.
This movie earns:
