The Covenant : Mission en Afghanistan

This is not a war movie. This is not an action movie. This is cathartic experience of the releasing of a bond of sacrifice, honor and humanity. Take out all the all guns and violence and you are left with two men who went through hell together and once you go on that journey you don't come out the other side until both of you are resting at home in bed with your families. There is no need to explain anything to us. Guy Ritchie manages to show us a story in such a nuanced why, the the interpreter not only interprets language, he interprets eyebrow movements, the shape of some ones smile, a little look there. In fact a good interpreter is one that can interpret what is not said and what is not done in the correct way. The actor who plays Ahmed was absolutely engrossing, he was able to draw us in and care about who story merely by the way he shows us, not even what he says and does, I really hope he gets recognition for this film, maybe even a Best Supporting Actor Nod. Jake Gylenhall was flawless as always. You felt the hook that was in him, like it was a real physical thing and he heeded to take out, otherwise he would not live in peace and be only half a man by not fulfilling his commitment, a commitment not spoken about it words but in sacrifice. I put this film in the same class of great Afghanistan war movies as 'Lone Survivor' (2013) as one of the best films ever made about the war in a Afghanistan. Long after the credit roll you are still left with their stories stuck in your head. Well done to the whole cast and crew for putting something together that I believe will become a timeless masterpiece.

I no idea how strongly Guy Ritchie genuinely feels about the grave wrongs that the US and UK military have done to interpreters in both Afghanistan and Iraq in recent conflicts but, if The Covenent is anything to go by, he's pretty pissed. And rightly so. The promises made to these individuals in an effort to get them to behave against the best interests of both them and their families needed to be honoured. In this story and in many real life cases, they weren't. That is shameful.

Jake Gyllenhaal is his usual reliable self, turning in a performance dripping in both commitment and duty. He's a good man and he's gonna do the right thing, no matter how far that necessitates he goes. Dar Salim - a new name to me - is an utter revelation as Ahmed, the bitter but pragmatic interpreter who puts his life on the line countless times to...yes, do the right thing.

The impact that war and each other have on these men's lives is at the very heart of this story. Though not based on any real incident to the best of my knowledge, this movie is testament to many real life situations that I have no doubt still keep men awake at night. It's an important movie and almost certainly a career high for all involved.

The least Guy Ritchie film Guy Ritchie has ever directed and I mean that in the nicest way possible, The Covenant (or officially Guy Ritchie's The Covenant for those that may not have known otherwise) is the British director's second box office bomb of 2023 but unlike Operation Fortune this Afghanistan set war thriller is Ritchie on top form, delivering a thrill a minute Hollywoodized romp that is one of the most well-rounded of the directors recent works.

A far cry from the likes of Snatch or The Gentleman, The Covenant is Ritchie dialling many of his trademarks way back while still managing to embed his Jake Gyllenhaal vehicle with the same type of energy, editing wizardry and character quirks that made him one of the most well-liked directors in the industry.

A completely fabricated tale inspired by work of local Afghani interpreters during the allied occupation of the country that lasted 20 years from the early 2000's until recent times, The Covenant is a white knuckle experience that follows Gyllenhaal's committed and no fuss Sergeant John Kinley and Dar Salim's (in a real breakout role for the performer) local interpreter Ahmed on a treacherous journey behind enemy lines when a seemingly routine operation their squad heads out on turns into a deadly battle to survive.

Delivered by the drone discovering Ritchie, backed by a rollicking score from composer Christopher Benstead and founded around the charismatic and committed turns from its two leads, The Covenant is far from a typical American war movie that is far more concerned with its characters than endless firefights and preaching and while those moments come and are undeniably well-staged by Ritchie and his team, its the small moments that make The Covenant more than just another big-budgeted Hollywood thriller.

Another addition to his wildly unpredictable and enjoyable new career phase that has moved on from quiet Oscar contenders and the odd bigger project to fully fledged Michael Bay/Road House remake era, Gyllenhaal brings his A-game here as Kinley and whether its shouting at an unfortunate phone operator or quietly pondering recent traumatic events in the wilds, Gyllenhaal is typically solid here and Salim matches him with the quiet but feisty Ahmed, both actors creating a likeable double bill of players that are hard not to be captured by.

A perfect Ritchie film for long time fans or those that may have never previously enjoyed his unique stylings or creativity, The Covenant may be easy to dismiss on face value but it's top notch Hollywood film-making in many ways and deserving of a much bigger audience than it was afforded in its cinematic run.

Final Say -

A rip-roaring war thriller with great lead turns that rarely lets up across a two hour runtime, The Covenant is in many ways a new type of film for Guy Ritchie that marks a new potentially exciting career move for the director to prove he's more than what many have pigeonholed him to be.

4 on hold phone calls out of 5.

Jordan and Eddie (The Movie Guys)

A movie that starts semi-uninteresting, foggy, vague laced with unknowingness, but gradually takes beautiful shape, commitment, camaraderie, hidden pledge deep from the heart, backed by Jake Gyllenhaal and Dar Salim's charismatic acting, superb and haunting photography & filming, supersonic tech and weaponry and moments of intense despair, frustration and anger.

My initial reserve, doubt and thought of clichéd repetitiveness quickly melted like snow in the sun. More than 85% of the movie seems and is realistic and that's an achievement by itself. Liked it very much and recommend it to any person with a deep sense of honor.

When you think the end is near, a glimmer of hope bathes you in its light.

• Screenplay/story: 7
• Development: 8
• Realism: 8.5
• Entertainment: 8
• Acting: 8
• Filming/photography/cinematography: 8.5
• Visual/special effects: 8.5
• Music/score: 8
• Depth: 8.5
• Logic: 7
• Flow: 8.5
• Action/thriller/war: 8
• Ending: 8.

Guy Ritchie's "The Covenant" proves to be a compelling choice for viewers, boasting a well-crafted narrative that resonates. At its core, the film weaves a heartwarming tale of camaraderie between a dedicated US soldier, portrayed with finesse by Jake Gyllenhaal, and an Afghan Interpreter, brought to life by the talented Dar Salim. The loyalty that Gyllenhaal's character exhibits toward the interpreter is endearing and genuinely portrayed.

In this standout performance, Gyllenhaal delivers one of his career-best portrayals, breathing life into his character with remarkable depth and realism. Dar Salim's casting as an Iraqi-born actor signals progress in addressing Hollywood's historical challenges with accurate ethnic casting.

What sets "The Covenant" apart is its ability to convey a sense of authenticity and believability while creating a fresh take within the wartime genre. Despite being a work of fiction, the film masterfully depicts the harsh realities of the war in Afghanistan, engulfing viewers in an emotionally charged and convincing tale.

While this movie is a bit of a slow burn, "The Covenant" remains a must-see for those in search of an authentic, engaging, and entertaining viewing experience.