The Covenant

Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Dar Salim, Sean Sagar, Jason Wong, Rhys Yates, Christian Ochoa Lavernia, Bobby Schofield, Emily Beecham, Jonny Lee Miller, Alexander Ludwig, Reza Diako, Antony Starr
Directed by: Guy Ritchie
Rating: R
Genre: War, Action, Drama
2023

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: In Afghanistan, an interpreter (Dar Salim) risks his life to save an injured sergeant (Jake Gyllenhaal).

Review:

Tim: I really enjoyed Guy Ritchie's The Covenant. It's interesting to me that even after all the movies we've gotten about the War in Afghanistan, there are still worthwhile stories to tell that don't feel redundant. Jake Gyllenhaal himself is no stranger to these kinds of films, with Jarhead and Rendition under his belt. The Covenant feels like a better film than either of those. Guy Ritchie tells a powerful story that offers a nice mix of action and drama. There's more emotion involved in this film than I expected. It's definitely one of the better movies about the conflicts we've seen in the Middle East.

I really appreciated that this film shone a light on the importance of Afghani interpreters during our war in their country. They had a terribly difficult role, working against the Taliban but being branded traitors for their actions. I don't think you can look at America's involvement there and feel proud, especially when we departed the country, allowed the Taliban to take over, and left hundreds of interpreters and their families to their fates. This movie doesn't harp on that, but it makes it abundantly clear that we abandoned them. The way it tells its story is to make you care deeply about the characters and empathize with their plight. It's a brilliant way to approach this story.

Ritchie does a nice job of telling a story that delivers high octane, intense action sequences while balancing truly dramatic, heartfelt moments throughout. This film does one of the best jobs I've seen of these kinds of movies of being character-first. It helps that it we get two tremendous performances from the stars. I'm a huge Jake Gyllenhaal fan and I still think he's constantly underrated. He's one of the best actors working today and he proves it yet again with another fantastic performance. Gyllenhaal really gets to showcase his talent here. He's excellent in the action scenes, but it's the dramatic ones in the middle of the film where he delivers his most powerful acting. We feel the torment John Kinney experiences, the guilt and the shame. He is excellent in this role. I also have to give a standing ovation to Dar Salim. I can barely find the words to describe his mesmerizing performance as Ahmed. You simply learn to love this character as the film progresses. He's a true hero, an honorable man, a courageous human being who rises to the occasion instead of cowering in fear. Salim makes him always feel human- it's the vulnerability he shows, the pain, the suffering he undergoes while performing heroic actions that connect us with his character. He worked incredibly well opposite Gyllenhaal. It's amazing to me that Gyllenhaal is such a fantastic actor, giving a special performance here, and yet, you have to stand in awe of what Salim does. He's wonderful in the role, without ever feeling like glory-seeking. He's not intending to outdo anyone. Salim delivers his terrific performance in quiet, subtle ways. I saw what he did, though, and I was blown away. I expect we'll see Salim many more times in the future. As far the supporting cast, they all work well. It was nice seeing Jonny Lee Miller in his supporting role, I enjoyed his performance. Alexander Ludwig was surprisingly effective in a small role. I wish Emily Beecham had more to do, but she was strong in her performance, too. The cast really makes a big difference here. This is not your "typical" war movie where the cast disappears into the uniform. This is a character-driven film that highlights the talent of the cast.

I appreciated the general flow of the film. It feels like we get some nice dramatic moments early on as we establish these characters. The action ramps up during the intense fighting sequences that put our characters at risk. Then, the middle of the film shifts to mostly drama. There were a few scenes here that went on too long and the movie loses a bit of the momentum it built up. However, before too long, we return to the high intensity action sequences that really pull us into the story. The conclusion of the film is exciting and memorable. Ritchie really did a nice job telling this story on screen.

I'm a big fan of The Covenant. It tells an important story that fictionalizes real-life heroes and calls attention to their struggles. It's exciting, entertaining, and thought-provoking. It features two great performances, from Gyllenhaal and Salim. This is one of the more pleasant surprises of 2023.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7.5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Jarhead, Rendition, Wrath of Man, The Outpost