Movie Review – Lone Survivor

With a title such as Lone Survivor, and a tagline, “Live to tell the tale”, one would think the suspenseful air has been let out of the proverbial balloon. I’m here to tell you that it has not. It’s very clear where this movie is going to end up, but the journey getting there is a gripping tale that will often leave you breathless and emotionally spent. Lone Survivor is rated R for strong bloody war violence and pervasive language.

Lone Survivor is based on a book written by the lone survivor of the failed June 28, 2005 mission: Operation Red Wings. The movie follows four members of SEAL Team 10 and the events leading up to their mission to capture or kill notorious Taliban leader, Ahmad Shahd. Mark Wahlberg, Ben Foster, Emile Hirsch, Taylor Kitsch and Eric Bana are the big names featured. Each and every one of them gives inspiring performances, however, the entire cast really does a great job at making everything believable. I give some of that credit to director Peter Berg because he clearly did his research to capture many of the nuances of being a SEAL and living through these life or death situations. He even gives the audience an unexpected look at what it takes to become a Navy SEAL during the film’s opening sequence. That display, early-on, sets the tone for the entire movie.

Since Lone Survivor is based on true events, don’t expect to see Expendables-esque over-the-top action. Having said that, there’s a lot of action that takes place when the time is right. Some of the violence is gratuitously brutal, to the point where one might need to look away for a few seconds. The cinematography captures these events in a way that make you realize just how harsh this life can be. War is not kind, nor is it forgiving. That said, there are many emotionally captivating scenes as well.

Lone Survivor is a true testament to what a Navy SEAL stands for and at what lengths they go to protect their virtues. The men and women that fight for our freedom deserve to be recognized and thanked. I say this because it takes a special kind of person to make the sacrifices that courageous individuals make -without hesitation. This story nails that point home with an authoritative hammer. Definitely see this one.