Review of Lone Survivor (2013) by Randy O — 03 Jan 2015

Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Taylor Kitsch, Ben Foster, Emile Hirsch.

Directed By: Peter Berg.

Rated: R.

The true story of the failed 2005, four man Navy SEAL mission to kill Taliban lead, Ahmad Shahd.

They really should have picked a better title for this movie. I don't know if they were just trying to not have any suspense about what happens, or if they just didn't think it through. So when you go into this, you know not everyone is going to make it, and thanks to most of the advertising for the movie, you probably also have a pretty good guess who. Does that hurt the film? Maybe just a little.

It's still a brutal look at what the men and women of the armed forces have to go through on missions of war, and the innocent civilians of the country where those wars are fought.

Well, after Taylor Kitsch's dismal year of 2012, it looks like he may just recover with a decent hit finally. Which is good, because he isn't a half bad actor, which is what drew me to the film in the first place. Him, Wahlberg, Foster, and Hirsch are all either personal favorites or actors I respect. Each one of them did a great job too.

I'm still surprised Ben Foster isn't as well-known as he should be, because he is an actor who gives consistent good performances with each film he's in. Maybe Lone Survivor will help give him some recognition.

I liked the movie for the most part. The shaky cam get a little out of control sometimes, but isn't the worst I've seen. Good acting, intense survival story (even though you know the outcome), and good pacing help hold your attention.

This movie doesn't pull any punches and earns its R rating though. It doesn't shy away from every bullet entry, headshot, and bone crunching fall. If you have a faint heart, you may want to stay away or wait for the edited TV version instead. It's a decent movie that provides a tough reminder about what went on (and is still going on) over in Iraq. It's worth a watch at least once.

6 Reels Out of 10.

"You can die for your country. I'm gonna to live for mine.".