Jake Gyllenhaal and Dar Salim are superb in a visceral display of brotherhood on the battlefield. Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant leaves no man behind. The film takes place at the end of the Afghanistan War. An American soldier, rescued by his Afghan interpreter after a disastrous raid, is dismayed to learn his savior and family are being hunted by the Taliban. He resolves to bring them to the United States at all costs. It’s a dangerous effort compounded by bureaucratic red tape and a fierce enemy hellbent on killing them.
In 2018 Afghanistan, Sergeant John Kinley (Gyllenhaal) and his elite tactical unit search for IED (Improvised Explosive Devices) factories. Their deadly job leads to tragic losses from a truck bomb. John must review a new field of candidates to replace their interpreter. A colleague recommends Ahmed (Salim), a headstrong but capable man whose son was murdered by the Taliban.
Ahmed’s demeanor rubs John the wrong way. They initially don’t get along. But Ahmed quickly proves his worth by securing vital intelligence during clandestine operations. They’re alerted to an explosives factory over 100 kilometers away. A mission that deep in Taliban territory needs an element of surprise. John convinces his commanding officer (Jonny Lee Miller) its worth the risk.
Guy Ritchie’s Raging Firefight
MGM
The raid explodes into a raging firefight. Air support won’t arrive in time to make a difference. John is critically injured during the escape, so Ahmed springs into action to save their lives. He carries an incapacitated John across mountainous terrain with Taliban fighters in pursuit. Back safely in California, a recovering John is overcome with grief and guilt. He’s shocked to learn that Ahmed and his family weren’t granted special exception visas by the US government. They are still in Afghanistan and primary targets of the Taliban.
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Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant has unrelenting intensity from the start. The opening scene establishes just how deadly the stakes are. The Taliban have no compunction killing innocents or themselves to inflict maximum casualties on the invading infidels. They particularly despise Afghans aiding the cause for freedom and consider them to be traitors. Ahmed hates the Taliban but isn’t on a heroic quest for justice. He has a family to feed above all. Ritchie avoids archetypes with careful nuance. His characters are complex people working together in treacherous circumstances.
A gut-wrenching second act pulls no punches. John is outraged in the aftermath of his return home. Gyllenhaal runs the gamut of emotions struggling secure Ahmed’s visas. The man that saved his life was left to fend for himself with no support. The breaking point is difficult to watch. John realizes that he must take whatever action necessary to get the job done. This means going back to Afghanistan and working with private contractors on his own dime.
A Sacred Duty
The Covenant’s action scenes are bloody and realistic. Soldiers die and get horrifically injured. The Taliban fighters aren’t just foolish lambs to the slaughter; they are formidable adversaries fighting on their own land with religious fervor. Ritchie delivers pulse-pounding combat and brilliantly crafted stealth. Ahmed relies on his wits and admirable strength of character to elude the Taliban.
The calamitous withdrawal from Afghanistan was an unmitigated disaster, with thousands dead and trillions spent over 20 years to absolutely no avail. Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant states a stark and undeniable truth. The United States has a sacred duty to protect every Afghan who risked their lives to help our cause, no matter what you think of that cause. Their lives are in imminent danger. The Taliban are ruthless and show no mercy.
Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant is a production of STXfilms and Toff Guy Films. It will have a theatrical release on April 21st from MGM.
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