"Lone Survivor" Review

Films about the Military can vary in their story, message, and content. They can be propaganda films which encourage you to buy War Bonds, they can be grim tales of sacrifice, they can even be comedies about the making OF a war movie. The best ones are those that fully scope all aspects and cover all bases. This is where we find Lone Survivor. 

Lone Survivor tells the true story of 2005 Operation Red Wings in Afghanistan. A team of four Navy SEALS is tasked to either kill or capture Taliban leader Ahmad Shah. When the mission is compromised, the team finds themselves in a firefight while struggling to re-establish communications with their base camp. 

It doesn't necessarily glorify war, but it accurately shows that certain actions are necessary. Rather than simply come across as another action/battle popcorn movie that waves the American flag in your face, it actually carries some dark yet gripping messages. It has a lively debate about the Rules of Engagement and sparks a very lively debate upon the moral dilemma that soldiers come across in the field. It has a nice mix of action and story that will certainly keep audiences entertained throughout.

One of the best aspects of the film is how well it handles it's conclusion. In the interest of preserving the film, and avoiding spoilers, I will simple state that the film is heartfelt and honest in demonstrating that in war, there can be innocence and shades of gray.

Mark Wahlberg does magnificently in his role as Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell. With a sense of both duty and humor, he loses himself into the role with his morals and his emotions taking us on a roller coaster. We find ourselves rooting for him when he is at his darkest points. And Wahlberg does not disappoint in any way. 

Eric Bana does well in his capacity as Lieutenant Commander Kristensen. With a sneer of command, and a deep sense of caring towards his troops, he keeps from becoming a cliched commander who does nothing but bark.

It's also nice to see a good performance from Taylor Kitsch after a string of failures. As Lieutenant Mike Murphy, Kitsch serves as an excellent counter to Wahlberg. With his own sense of morals, he elegantly demonstrates that just because one person is right does not mean that the other is wrong. 

There are some very gruesome images in the film that may make the squeamish uneasy, so viewer discretion is advised. But otherwise, I suggest Lone Survivor be on your radar. It's a well rounded war picture that doesn't flounder. And surprisingly decent coming from the director of Battleship.

B+