Lone Survivor

Lone Survivor is the true story as told by Marcus Luttrell, a former Navy SEAL who was involved in a series of unfortunate events known as Operation Red Wing back in 2005 in Afghanistan. The story is basically told through the previews and the marketing campaign, leaving nothing to the imagination and leaving no question as to how the film will ultimately end. Peter Berg knows better. This isn't a glitzy Hollywood war film, this is a story of survival and humanity. The point of the film as explained by Luttrell and Berg is to tell the story to as many people as possible. That is Luttrell's promise that he made to his fallen comrades, and that is what the film accomplishes beautifully and tragically.

I read Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10 a couple of years ago because I am in awe of what the warriors in the US Special Forces do. There is the side where they get to train to the limits of human endurance, play with guns and explosives, and travel the world killing bad guys, but there's also the side that I am fascinated by. Fighting in the face of extreme danger. Going into situations where death is probable, and fighting to the end, contrary to all of what we as humans are wired to do. The bravery and courage is unfathomable by most people, and I find that to be the most interesting aspect of their chosen profession. To literally know that you are going to die, and to continue to fight not out of a sense of vengeance or hate, but as a protective instinct toward your team. This story epitomizes altruism and the ultimate sacrifice, but also shows the pinnacle of the will to survive.

Now, you may realize that at the time of this publication, the film hasn't been widely released yet. This movie critic has his ways, and although I probably wasn't technically supposed to have seen the film yet, I want to continue Luttrell's mission and tell the story, because it is a doozy. A four man Navy SEAL team led by Lieutenant Mike Murphy scale the God-forsaken Afghan mountains in search of a deadly Taliban leader who's rumored to be in the area. They lose communication, are discovered by some local goat-herders, and the firefight of the century ensues after they take the moral high road. Four against five hundred, they retreat down the mountain, taking a shelling from all sides. Marcus Luttrell (Mark Wahlberg) is the last man standing, and through a little luck, a survivor's will, a lot of heart, and Pashtunwali, he is ultimately saved by his fellow warriors, both Afghan and American.

Left to right, the picture shows Mike Murphy, Danny Dietz, Matt Axelson, and Marcus Luttrell.

The tragedy and beauty of the film is that you know the outcome when you walk in the theatre, but throughout the firefight, there is still a piece of you that is hoping that these characters will survive. That can be credited to the direction and acting. The four main characters all take their roles very seriously and without much character introduction, we sense the bond and the integrity that they have with each other. Now, you can't have a war biopic without a bit of jingoism, and Peter Berg loves America more than any other filmmaker. Fortunately, he keeps the cheesiness to a minimum, having the banter and bonding on base take up a mere handful of minutes at the outset. We are immersed into SEAL life with a real-life indoctrination montage during the opening credits, and it is a fitting introduction to our four heroes. He wastes no time jumping right into the fray, as we are given a small glimpse into each of their lives, ironically with Luttrell receiving the most minimal character development of the four. This was likely intentional as Luttrell was a key consultant on the project and he gave his approval. He can be seen as an unnamed SEAL throughout the film as well, which makes the whole project a bit more real and important.

As the credits role, we get a look at the real men who gave their lives for the fight against the Taliban. Most of them in the prime of their lives, cut down in their 20's or 30's. We see fathers, husbands, brothers, and sons. It's heartbreaking and reaffirming at the same time, that this fight is worth fighting. The Taliban is intimidating the people of Afghanistan in a merciless landscape, and there isn't really a way for them to change it themselves. If we want to see change in that remote and archaic part of the world, we need our warriors elite to facilitate that change.

Mark Wahlberg was an interesting pick for the role of Marcus Luttrell, and although he fits the part, his character is the blandest of the four. This is probably by design, as the intent isn't to showcase the heroism of the survivor, but that of the fallen. He is humble and confident as the team's medic and brings just enough star power to drive the vehicle into the mainstream. His role is what makes it more of a box office draw, and less of an Oscar caliber film (which it just misses). In his defense however, he has spoken out about actors who compare training for roles to that of the harshness of the military. He truly believes in this project and in telling the story authentically, and he succeeds.

Emile Hirsch, Ben Foster, and Taylor Kitsch play the other three members of the squad, and each one brings a different spirit to their roles. Kitsch plays the leader, Mike Murphy, and is a Peter Berg favorite, having been in Battleship and Friday Night Lights. He gets his shirtless moment in the beginning, but after that steps up his acting, showing some chops beyond his typical brooding good looking leading man image, especially during his penultimate scenes that are so critical to Luttrell's eventual rescue.

Hirsch plays Danny Dietz, the communications specialist, and he gives off the vibe of the inexperienced pacifist of the group. Maybe I'm off the mark, but it contributes to his humanity, which makes it even more emotional when he meets his fate. This is a Hirsch that we haven't seen before. A mature version of the Into the Wild actor who I loved back in 2007. He's back on my radar now as one to watch, and the 28 year old tackles the John Belushi biopic next, which is likely to earn him critical recognition.

Ben Foster is my favorite piece of this film, and the awards buzz are valid. He plays Matt Axelson, the weapons specialist, who exudes the warrior spirit more than the other three. There is a delicate balance of love and war in his eyes and his speech, and his character for some reason more than the others generates a simmering desire in the audience to see him survive the ordeal. Ben has been in Hollywood for a long time now, since playing the mentally challenged Eli on Freaks and Geeks (1999). The 33 year old will tackle a Lance Armstrong biopic next. He is one of my current favorite 30-something actors, with amazing performances in 3:10 to Yuma, The Messenger, and Rampart in the past few years, he's making good choices (mostly - there are a couple of paycheck roles over the past decade or so). Making his leading man debut next year, I expect many years of solid performances from him, and am really excited to see if he gets any real recognition for his portrayal of Axe.

Marcus Luttrell wrote Lone Survivor to tell the story and honor his fallen brothers. Peter Berg made this film for the same purpose, and he did a fantastic job. Berg was behind the entertaining, yet ridiculous Battlefield adaptation from 2012. His affinity for the military is evident through his body of work (2007's The Kingdom) and his outspoken interviews. You can tell that there is a desire for authenticity, but at times his slo-mo scenes, some of the non-essential dialogue, and some of the more artistic camera shots detract from that authenticity. Don't get me wrong, he does the story justice, and he does an amazing job at making the story both accessible to the masses while maintaining the key details that honor the fallen. He misses the mark slightly by going for the mainstream as opposed to an award-winning caliber film. I love that he did this project, and nobody could have done a better job (maybe Kathryn Bigelow or Steven Spielberg) with the material and the cast. It just seemed a tiny bit too Hollywood and not gritty or visceral enough. That's what separated it from what I was hoping for. Had it been rated R and more bloody, it may legitimately be in the "Saving Private Ryan" arena.

Stories of survival against all odds and circumstances come along every once in awhile and this is one of those rare stories. Much like 127 Hours in its unbelievability, it is unimaginable what must have been going through Luttrell's mind throughout this ordeal, and ultimately in reflection he can't possibly be anything other than emotionally scarred and shocked.

I'm a big fan of realistic military films, even mainstream Hollywood renditions. This is not in the realm of Saving Private Ryan, despite the advertisement during the TV commercials. It is more of what Black Hawk Down could have been, and in the general area of Zero Dark Thirty's portrayal of modern warfare. We probably won't ever look at war films the same way because the idea of warfare and the theater of war has advanced so dramatically. No longer do lines of troops slog through a jungle, or advance from trench to trench. Special Forces, drones, small teams, and surgical strikes are the future of combat. This is good for saving American soldiers' lives, but opens up more stories like Lone Survivor. I am biased because I love these kinds of movies, and Peter Berg did a great job. Emile Hirsch and Ben Foster are rising stars in my opinion, and the book is certainly worth reading as well. Another one worth picking up is the Gary Williams biography, SEAL of Honor: Operation Red Wings and the Life of LT. Michael P. Murphy (USN). .

Next on the horizon in this genre is the adaptation of American Sniper, the story of Chris Kyle, who accumulated the most confirmed kills of any SEAL sniper in American history. Bradley Cooper is attached to star, and Spielberg was rumored to direct, but last I heard he has dropped out and Clint Eastwood is thinking about taking on the project. Should be good either way, but the project may be stalled because Kyle was killed last February in a shooting range in his home town in Texas by a man who he took to the range to deal with his PTSD. It's another tragic ending to an amazing story. We'll see if it makes the big screen.

Sorry, I digress. If you like action, Lone Survivor is a great film. It met my expectation to say the least, I just dare you not to tear up during the closing credits. 9/10.