Movie Review Guy Ritchies The Covenant (2023)
Guy Ritchie contract , 2023.
Directed by Guy Ritchie.
Gary with Jake Gyllenhaal, Dar Selim, Anthony Starr, Alexander Ludwig, Emily Beacham, Jason Wong, Bobby Schofield, Sean Sagar, Reza Diakko, Abbas Fasai, Swen Tamel, Rhys Yates, Ash Goldeh, Christian Ochoa Lavernia, Marcel Jade, Hadi Khanjanpour Anthony Stennett, Fariba Shekhan, Damon Zolfaghri, Javier Ramos, Kawa Mawlaye, Altamas Noor, Javid Hakim, Sina Parvaneh, Mo Ahmadi, Cyrus Khodaveisi, and Peman Arianfar.
Summary :
After the ambush, Afghan interpreter Ahmed desperately tries to save the life of US Army Sergeant John Kinley. When Kinley learns that Ahmed and his family have not been granted safe passage to the United States as promised, he must return to the battlefield and repay his debt to win over the Taliban before they come after them.
In many ways , Guy Ritchie's The Covenant is one of his best films, unlike anything the director has ever done. It takes most of the familiar trademarks (crude humor, hyperediting, style over substance); They're not here or they've been exploited/executed to fit into a heavy military drama that has less to do with American anarchism and more to do with courage, honor, and repaying the debt they sacrificed to serve them. . Not to mention, much of the story centers on the heroic efforts of an Afghan translator, depicted with appropriate majesty and surprising determination.
Guy Ritchie was fascinated by the connection between US military personnel and the translators who joined them. The reasons could be from money, hatred of the Taliban, getting an American visa, or something more complex and revenge-based, like the Taliban killing your family. Of course, the script by Evan Atkinson, Maron Davies and Guy Ritchie doesn't delve into these complex dynamics, but it's still nice that the filmmakers found some fresh angles to explore this battle.
After the unfortunate death of translator Sergeant John McKinley (Jake Gyllenhaal) in an explosion, a new beginning is made for the post, paving the way for Ahmed (Dar Selim) to join the team. Unsurprisingly, the entire troupe is introduced with a pop-up graphic that displays each soldier's name and nickname, creating a bracket for the usual gags from Guy Ritchie's teenage characters. There is also the fear that since he co-wrote for the military, the jokes will go off the rails here. Still, it's pretty grounded and gives the impression of a believable brotherhood that cares for each other and jokes around without spending too much time on torture. This time Guy Ritchie is here to tell a great story.
Of course, the purpose of using this interpreter is to investigate the presence of an explosive device, which is useful to Ahmed, even as he insists that other members of the Afghan forces lead them into ambushes. However, explosives were found and the situation quickly escalated, causing heavy casualties on both sides. Essentially, John and Ahmed take turns staring each other down, in exciting, non-stop action sequences (enhanced by Christopher Benstead's adrenaline-pumping soundtrack), from combat to knife-wielding stealth skills to car chases (with world-class scenery). set). Beautiful aerial images capture the beauty behind this endless chaos, courtesy of cinematographer Ed Wild).
Now, it should come as no surprise that Guy Ritchie once again excels at creating action, but there are some artistic shots that will stick in the mind, such as a Taliban soldier firing a rifle bat into Hitting's forehead. , two other soldiers were already behind and defended themselves with bullets when small traces of blood were seen from his front leg and nose. Then there was a sustained escape from Ahmed, which put him in even more danger that could have ended badly for him, whether he did the right thing or not.
Guy Ritchie's other The Covenant deals with the aftermath, showing John McKinley determined to repay that debt by potentially suicidal means. Sure, the story stumbles to convey PTSD and its buildup to an action-packed finale, but the juxtaposition between these two families and how they survive (or stop surviving) is different. There is a sense of wonder, respect, survival guilt, and an underlying drive to do what is right. Jake Gyllenhaal and Dar Selim, wow, they effectively build that bond and turn into a tense major battle scene, elevating this emotionally draining story in their own daring way. Perhaps most importantly, Guy Ritchie truly explores this similarity between soldiers and translators.
Flashing Myth Rating – Movie: ★★★★ / Movie: ★★★★
Robert Kozder is a member of the Chicago Film Critics Association and the Critics' Choice Association. He is also the editor of Blinking Myth Review. Check here for new reviews, follow me on Twitter or Letterboxd or email me at MetalGearSolid719@gmail.com
