Directed by:
Guy RitchieCinematography:
Ed WildComposer:
Christopher BensteadCast:
Jake Gyllenhaal, Dar Salim, Alexander Ludwig, Emily Beecham, Antony Starr, Bobby Schofield, Jonny Lee Miller, Sean Sagar, Jason Wong, James Nelson-Joyce (more)VOD (3)
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Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant follows US Army Sergeant John Kinley (Jake Gyllenhaal) and Afghan interpreter Ahmed (Dar Salim). After an ambush, Ahmed goes to Herculean lengths to save Kinley’s life. When Kinley learns that Ahmed and his family were not given safe passage to America as promised, he must repay his debt by returning to the war zone to retrieve them before the Taliban hunts them down. (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM))
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Episode 1: The Trap. Episode 2: Survive. Episode 3: Conscience Glows Orange, Waiting for the Green Light from the Wife. Episode 4: Settled Debt. The first brings masculinity and testosterone, the second the calm strength of Dar Salim, in the third it becomes clear that the director isn't quite confident with characters free of exaggeration, and in the fourth, the commitment is fulfilled according to the expected last-minute notes. Ritchie is creatively stifled outside his islands, and in the last few slow-motion seconds, I wondered if he had handed over the director’s chair to Peter Berg, but as an example from the code of honor, which internally tells a person what is right to do, it had an impact on me. Just like when the Angel of Death appeared without the silhouette of flares that gave him his name.
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Guy Ritchie has become an unexpectedly interesting filmmaker in recent years, making a "smaller", gritty and honest-to-goodness film here and there in addition to crafting decently done commercial stuff. After The Gentlemen and Wrath of Man comes The Covenant, which isn't necessarily the best of the aforementioned trio, but at least manages to translate a whiff of creative verve into the viewing experience. In the first half, Ritchie delivers an almost procedural war drama, only to switch into John Woo mode in the second half with his over-the-top bromance action, culminating in a fetishistically long montage of the immeasurable physical and emotional effort one partner can make to save another.
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After a long time, finally a good film project from the contemporary war environment. The story is very strong in its depth and relevance. It is almost frightening to imagine what the local interpreters working for the U.S. had to go through after 2021. The film is packed with action, tension and very well developed emotional bonds. Both Jake Gyllenhall and Dar Salim are a great fit for these roles. Recommended.
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It's refreshing to see Guy Ritchie tackle a more serious topic instead of his usual pop culture-heavy fare. The Covenant is a solid piece of filmmaking. The story of Afghan translators deserves attention — they risk not just their lives but also the safety of their loved ones. The film perfectly captures the war-torn atmosphere and delivers flawless action sequences, all underscored by a strong sense of honor. And as any man can attest, honor is the highest virtue we can offer.
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A well-crafted film, set during the war in Afghanistan, centered on the importance of repaying a debt. It’s quite surprising that Guy Ritchie tackled such a topic; he always seemed more suited to other genres (but maybe this was his dream project). The acting is absolutely outstanding. Gyllenhaal (once again!) delivered a phenomenal performance, and Dar Salim supported him admirably. The film relies heavily on the intimate dynamic between these two leads, showcasing their acting prowess. Christopher Benstead also excelled; his powerful yet emotionally charged soundtrack hits the right notes. Masterful work! However, one aspect disappointed me: the action sequences. I can’t quite understand why I felt a certain sterility watching Ritchie’s film (considering the absolutely perfect Wrath of Man in this regard, it’s really puzzling). The shootouts simply didn’t engage me (though the AC-130 at the end was a nice touch). On the other hand, the plot is enjoyable, the actors are top-notch, and Antony Starr also gets his moment. I give it 7.5/10. P.S. But Lone Survivor by Berg is in a completely different league quality-wise :)
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