The Covenant

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 :) (05/30/2023)

Another classy and focused Ritchie flick. As with Wrath of Man, this is not a lightweight, verbally refined stylistic feature, but direct and vigorous male-driven action with minimal dialogue, this time paying tribute to Afghan interpreters. Although it is not based on a true story, it feels very realistic, with the highlight being the chase with ragheads in the mountains about halfway through. The tension can be cut and the technically perfect Michael Mann-style action is breathtaking. The warfare is bloody, grounded, and even the barracks feel very realistic, more like a non-production area in a factory than a modern control centre. Gyllenhaal is economical and doesn't take credit from Dar Salim, as his unassuming mechanic with a family and a baby on the way is the real main character here. There's nothing much more to the story than what's in the synopsis, but it's really about a man's word and his commitment to help someone who got you out of some shit. (05/10/2023)

Testosterone meets character. Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant outshines Berg’s pure-blooded action genre flick Lone Survivor because it is not merely a pure-blooded action genre flick. Ritchie offers a more powerful story, or rather he is able to draw a dramatically deeper spectacle with intellectual reach out of the story that he has at hand. The shooting is of secondary importance. The Covenant is well cast and Jake Gyllenhaal turns in another fantastic performance. The buddy motif with Dar Salim is minimalist in gestures but all the more powerful at its core. Commitments and principles in a bulletproof man code. (05/19/2023)

A macho story about commitments that are really important in life and should be fulfilled. With a minimum of words, but an ideal amount of gestures and decent music as support. Ritchie's directorial finesse is nowhere near Spielberg's or Scott's, so the gunfights are rather generic, full of annoyingly digital effects (what else could we ask for 55 million dollars?) and certainly not the main draw of the film, but at least he delivers another solid adult film with emotions, suspense and without pathos after post-modern bullshit like King Arthur or Sherlock Holmes. The Covenant will probably get lost among war movies because there’s is too little war and the depiction of Eastern terrorists is not as catchy and dynamic as in, say, The Kingdom, nor as meticulously detailed as in Zero Dark Thirty, but in terms of content, it is is relatively strong, simple and straightforward. (06/02/2023)

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. (05/11/2023)