The Covenant

Guy Ritchie's The Covenant is a great movie with an interesting story on an important subject matter. It has some intense action scenes and many moments of suspense. The music is fantastic, elevating every scene. That's now three movies where I've noticed a great musical score by composer Christopher Benstead, along with Wrath of Man and Operation Fortune.

Jake Gyllenhaal gives a great performance as usual. The surprise stand out is Dar Salim, who did a great job of getting me invested in his character and wellbeing. I wish Antony Starr (The Boys, Banshee) had a bigger role, but it was cool to see him have scenes with a star of Gyllenhaal's caliber. He's such a great actor and I continue to wait for him to get major movie roles.

I'm impressed with the subject matter covered here. It's so sad and needs to be addressed. It's not the first time the American government has broken promises or shirked responsibilities resulting in catastrophic outcomes for the people who put their trust in them. Some people will immediately call you unpatriotic for even bringing this up. But wrong is wrong, regardless of who does it.

(1 viewing, opening Thursday 4/20/2023)

I no idea how strongly Guy Ritchie genuinely feels about the grave wrongs that the US and UK military have done to interpreters in both Afghanistan and Iraq in recent conflicts but, if The Covenent is anything to go by, he's pretty pissed. And rightly so. The promises made to these individuals in an effort to get them to behave against the best interests of both them and their families needed to be honoured. In this story and in many real life cases, they weren't. That is shameful.

Jake Gyllenhaal is his usual reliable self, turning in a performance dripping in both commitment and duty. He's a good man and he's gonna do the right thing, no matter how far that necessitates he goes. Dar Salim - a new name to me - is an utter revelation as Ahmed, the bitter but pragmatic interpreter who puts his life on the line countless times to...yes, do the right thing.

The impact that war and each other have on these men's lives is at the very heart of this story. Though not based on any real incident to the best of my knowledge, this movie is testament to many real life situations that I have no doubt still keep men awake at night. It's an important movie and almost certainly a career high for all involved.

Guy Ritchie's "The Covenant" proves to be a compelling choice for viewers, boasting a well-crafted narrative that resonates. At its core, the film weaves a heartwarming tale of camaraderie between a dedicated US soldier, portrayed with finesse by Jake Gyllenhaal, and an Afghan Interpreter, brought to life by the talented Dar Salim. The loyalty that Gyllenhaal's character exhibits toward the interpreter is endearing and genuinely portrayed.

In this standout performance, Gyllenhaal delivers one of his career-best portrayals, breathing life into his character with remarkable depth and realism. Dar Salim's casting as an Iraqi-born actor signals progress in addressing Hollywood's historical challenges with accurate ethnic casting.

What sets "The Covenant" apart is its ability to convey a sense of authenticity and believability while creating a fresh take within the wartime genre. Despite being a work of fiction, the film masterfully depicts the harsh realities of the war in Afghanistan, engulfing viewers in an emotionally charged and convincing tale.

While this movie is a bit of a slow burn, "The Covenant" remains a must-see for those in search of an authentic, engaging, and entertaining viewing experience.

You cannot go wrong with Jake Gyllenhaal. He should have won an Oscar by now as he is every bit as intense and talented as Leonardo DiCaprio. "The Covenant" starts out as what seems to be a garden-variety war movie, but with interesting off kilter shots and soundtrack, compliments of Guy Ritchie. Then it takes you to its main act, which capably veers away from action scenes to emphasize something human, honorable, and heartfelt. A surprising twist from a brutal, violent movie is that instead of the usual revenge theme, this is about "paying your debts" and doing something that redeems one's integrity. The journey to get there is quite intense, and Gyllenhaal finds himself an equally dramatic match with Dar Salim portraying Ahmed. His deep eyes say so much even when he is not saying anything.

First, actors - you can't go wrong with Jake Gyllenhaal. But all others did a great job! It is a realistic movie, with excellent action moments. What is a sad thing to know is that this is someone's reality! I will not play idealist and dream of a world of peace, but my goodness, thinking this is someone's day, week, .... year! Uh! The movie is produced at the highest level. From gear to each and every element. Actors probably had training of some sort. You can see it when and how they hold a gun, move in close combat... This is one fantastic movie. The soundtrack brings sadness, and some scenes with a translator... This is a well-made movie, a true army flick, made by real men for men! War is never good, but friendship and valor are always worth of admire.

EDIT: Dar Salim - P H E N O M E N A L!