12 Strong

Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Michael Shannon, Michael Pena, Navid Negahban, Trevante Rhodes, Geoff Stults, Thad Luckinbill, Rob Riggle, William Fichtner, Taylor Sheridan
Directed by: Nicolai Fuglsig
Rating: R
Genre: Action, Drama, War
2018

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: In the wake of 9/11, a group of 12 American soldiers is dropped into Afghanistan and are the first Americans to fight the Taliban.

Review:

Tim: I've made minor complaints over the years about how many movies we've gotten about the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. I understand the historical and personal importance of those events, but it's felt like we've seen those stories told again and again. I'm not opposed to the movies, especially if they can tell us a story we haven't seen before. Thankfully, that is the case with 12 Strong. This movie felt different to the others we've seen and well worth our time.

I have to admit I didn't know about the first group of Americans to engage in combat with the Taliban after 9/11. This story was a new one and one that wasn't highly publicized, so it felt like a fresh take on the conflicts we've seen portrayed numerous times over the last almost two decades. It helps that the story was classified for years, but anyway- this movie had a reason to exist and it tells a story all Americans should know about.

The film itself is a pretty straightforward telling of these soldiers. The action sequences are solid and there's some legitimately suspenseful moments. The whole thing does feel a bit by-the-book. There's not a lot of unpredictability in the plot and it ends pretty much exactly as you would expect. It didn't feel like the story had any elements that really created piercing insight into these men or what they faced. It was interesting, but it never really elevated the material in any meaningful way. Still, the action scenes are pretty entertaining, which is a huge factor in a movie like this.

The cast is truly a differentiator here. They take an average script and decent direction (this was Nicolai Fuglsig's second directorial effort and his inexperience shows) and they made the movie worth watching. Chris Hemsworth was solid in the lead role. I was often critical of his acting ability early in his career, but he's gotten more comfortable in the last few years. His performance here isn't anything extraordinary and there are still moments he needed to deliver better, but for the most part, Hemsworth works well. He's made himself into a legitimate action star and he works well in roles like this. He's likable, which helps us identify with his character. Michael Shannon was well cast also, although it felt like his talent wasn't fully utilized. Shannon is an underrated actor and has delivered some stunning performances in the last few years. He's good here, but he doesn't get to showcase his talent. That is a shame. I loved seeing Michael Pena here. He's one of my favorite actors. This was a safe role for him, but he automatically makes any movie better. His humor and his energy brought a much-needed uplift to the film. Navid Negahban gives a very strong, memorable performance. The rest of the supporting cast is good- not a ton of standouts, but everyone turns in solid performances.

The movie does a good job of telling this story of American soldiers trying to navigate the unfamiliar world of Afghanistan at the very start of the war there. It was fascinating to see them trying to overcome language and cultural barriers as they worked to hold together fragile alliances and navigate the tricky Afghan political factions. That aspect isn't something we have seen much of in movies like this and it was refreshingly informative.

I enjoyed 12 Strong. It suffers a little due to the inexperience of its director, but you do need to give Fuglsig credit for delivering a solid, entertaining movie in only his second time in the director's chair. This movie isn't quite as memorable as it needed to be, but it does just enough to stand out from the many forgettable similar movies. This is a film I enjoyed and would certainly recommend to others.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Lone Survivor, Brothers