Lone Survivor Review

Written and Directed by Peter Berg

Based on the book by Marcus Luttrell and Patrick Robinson

A group of Four Navy SEALs is sent to take out a high-ranking Al Queda target when their cover is blown. Only one of these men survived to tell the tale. This is the true story on which Lone Survivor is based. The survivor, Marcus Luttrell, wrote a book detailing his experiences with Operation Red Wings, and that book served as the basis for this film. 

Mark Wahlberg, Taylor Kitsch, Ben Foster and Emile Hirsch star as the four SEALs who are sent on the mission. The movie takes a little bit of time introducing the audience to these characters before sending them on their mission. The main flaw of the film comes in this point, as the characters are unfortunately not developed as fully as they should be. The film's focus is on who they are as soldiers rather than who they are as people. Wahlberg and Kitsch are given the most to do in the film, although Ben Foster impresses simply by being the strongest actor of the quartet, but nonetheless there is only so much these men can do with their somewhat underwritten roles.

It is then to the power of Peter Berg's directing that we still care for these men. Though perhaps not as much as we might have with more development, we nonetheless root for all four of these men to make it out alive, despite the fact that we know they won't. The action in this film is realistic and brutal. Aside from a few moments, there are very few stylistic flourishes, and instead the action mostly consists of people shooting and getting shot. Bullets hit with a sickening thud, blood and gore are restrained to a realistic level, and everybody involved takes some damage to the point where we are amazed that anybody even has the will to keep fighting.

As for whether this film is pro or anti-war, I don't believe it is either. It is a film about soldiers, bravery and camaraderie, and I believe it is one in which you can take whatever message out of it you will. The film's focus is on the sacrifice that these men make for what they believe is a good cause, whether or not it really is. It is a powerful, incredibly intense film that will have you on the edge of your seat, just maybe not with as much emotional investment as it could. B+