Review // Lone Survivor

Peter Berg’s Lone Survivor is a harrowing and bloody retelling of the US Navy SEALs failed Operation Red Wings and the young men who lost their lives attempting to carry it out.

The film stars Mark Wahlberg as Marcus Luttrell, the (spoiler?) lone survivor of the doomed Navy SEALs Operation Red Wings, and co-author of the book upon which it is based. After a quick introduction to the rigours of SEAL training via an opening title sequence we meet the other men of operation: Michael Murphy (Taylor Kitsch), Danny Dietz (Emile Hirsch), and Matt Axelson (Ben Foster). A quick but effective introduction to the characters shows us that while they may be finely tuned operatives of war, they are also young men, longing for home and their far-away loved ones. Soon, however, word comes from their commanding officer Erik Kristensen (Eric Bana) and Operation Red Wings gets underway. Before long the men are on the side of a mountain, staking out an Afghan village, and looking for a senior Taliban leader.

The four actors are well cast, portraying young men dedicated to their cause and eager for adventure. Their interplay on the mountainside is as familiar professionals, with Talyor Kitsch surprisingly convincing as the ranking officer. Soon however, the pleasant mountain hike begins to unravel as three goat-herders from the nearby village stumble upon the soldiers. The four men are left with the dilemma of whether to release the villagers (who will almost certainly run down the mountain and inform the Taliban) or to “terminate the compromise”. They decide to let them go, adhering to the rules of engagement whatever the consequences. Oh and there are consequences.

After a pleasant but unremarkable first act the film quickly kicks into high gear. The men are surrounded by countless Taliban fighters, and the serene landscape of the Santa Fe National Forest (standing in for the Hindu Kush mountain range) erupts in one of the bloodiest firefights put to film since Black Hawk Down. The film’s depiction of violence is brutal and unrelenting. Berg captures the fight sequences up close, as if we’re huddled in cover alongside the four men. We hear every barked order, every yelp of pain and the whiz of every nearby projectile. It is a harrowing experience, exhausting to watch and horrifying to imagine.

At some point amidst the chaos I stopped and took a breath, reminding myself that this was a true story. I started to wonder whether such brutal and traumatizing events should ever be adapted to the screen? I got to wondering whether this was something to be enjoyed, or – like the marine training at the beginning of the film – something to be endured? Then someone probably fell down a rocky cliff and grabbed my attention. There is a lot of falling down rocky cliffs.

If the true events were half as brutal as the film’s depiction Lone Survivor is certainly one of the most affecting anti-war films of the year. I’ll admit that when I first saw the trailer I rolled my eyes, assuming it to be a pro-war exercise, using a heavily reported true story to beat the drum of American militarism for another two hours. And while the film may overdo it at times, it certainly doesn’t make you want to run out and join the military. Sure, things occasionally slip in to genre territory. The music is a little on the campy side, the enemies are (for much of the movie) faceless goons covered in squibs, and at one point the four men hurl themselves off of a cliff in slow motion as an RPG explodes behind them. It is an action movie. But these cliches are juxtaposed by moments of jarring realism. Berg does not shy away from the consequences of the violence. The characters get hurt. Then they get hurt some more. But they press on. And when his lens is focused on the four soldiers, desperate and fighting for each other, Berg’s film truly succeeds.

Lone Survivor manages to transcend much of the generic action film trappings and provide a riveting account of an incredible true story. Though it may lay it on thick at times, the film is nevertheless a striking reminder of the sacrifices made by military personnel across the globe. Not for the faint of heart, and certainly not for those afraid of falling down rocky cliffs, the film proves that a faithful retelling of true events doesn’t need to strive to make a larger point. Telling the story is the point. Go with some friends, and be happy you’re able to leave with them.

You can check out the trailer for Lone Survivor here.

Reviewed by Evan Arppe.

Click here for more movie trailers!