Feb 09, 2014 08:47 PM
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Review of Lone Survivor – This is a film by Peter Berg based on the US war in Afghanistan. The director’s earlier offering was the relatively light-hearted ‘Battle Ship’. Peter hired seasoned actor Mark Wahlberg to play the lead role of Petty Officer Marcus Lutteral, who is the author of the book, based on which the script was written.
The film is a departure from tenor that ‘Battleship’ followed in the sense that the action is pitched at a more ground level and the tone realistic. The title of the film prepares one for the impending action and the bonhomie and banter of base camp doesn’t elicit a guffaw. Action soon shifts to Operation ‘Red wings’ which is to capture Taliban leader Ahmed Shah. Glossing over details or limiting the battle to confluence of high tech gadgets, satellite, drones and eye in the sky are avoided as was the fact on ground in 2005.
Therein lay the strength of the film where Seal team 10’s fate changes from being settled in casual comfort of Observation post to being pinned down in unfriendly terrain within a matter of hours. The vagaries of battle space with communication link failures, impracticality of Rules of engagements and their implementation during tenuous times makes for engaging viewing pleasure.
Despite almost no background of the lead characters explained, one feels for them as they are portrayed as a professional lot who are on a national mission and not a heady war mongering swaggering bunch that we often encounter. The rapid tempo of fire fight shocks and keeps one on the edge. As the story moves forward, the heart of the film is shown to be in the right place as one is exposed to the gritty Afghans with their deeply ingrained customs, for which they take lives and lay down theirs.
In the end, one leaves the hall with admiration for professionalism of the American soldier, the doggedness of the Afghani warrior and the brilliance of the director who pitches it all so well, to leave you moved, inspired and entertained. 4.5 Stars.
