Lone Survivor
LONE SURVIVOR (15)
D: Peter Berg
Universal (Peter Berg, Sarah Aubrey, Randall Emmett,
Norton Herrick, Barry Spikings, Akiva Goldsman, Mark Wahlberg, Stephen Levinson & Vitaly Grigoriants)
US 2013
121 mins
War/Action/Biopic
W: Peter Berg [based on the book by Marcus Luttrell &
Patrick Robinson]
DP: Tobias Schliessler
Ed: Colby Parker, Jr.
Mus: Steve Jablonsky
Marc Wahlberg (Marcus Luttrell), Taylor Kitsch (Lt.
Michael Murphy), Emile Hirsch (Danny Dietz), Ben Foster (Matthew Axelson), Eric Bana (Lt. Cmdr. Erik Kristensen)
It's unfortunate that the title is a bit of a giveaway, in
fact, it gives away its winning hand before the film has even begun.
On a routine mission in Afghanistan, a small unit follow
the rules of engagement by letting a family of farmers go, compromising their operation and are subsequently caught up in a firefight with Taliban soldiers.
What begins as a standard American flagwaver becomes an
intrepid drama of survival against all odds, one which surprisingly manages to capture the spirit of humanity against all the bloodshed.
Much like Black Hawk Down (qv) it's a vivid and realistic
representation of post-9/11 conflict in the Middle East. It's likely to be enjoyed more on the American side of the Atlantic, but can also be appreciated by those further afield. Based on
true events.
6/10
