Next War? Send Politicians!

     The latest film from director Peter Berg is "Lone Survivor", a true tale based on the book of the same name.  This film is an all too realistic and up close look at war and the ultimate sacrifices paid by many.  As such, it is a gut wrenching roller coaster ride from which there is no escape.  In the opening credits actual footage of Navy Seal recruits going through basic training is shown.  In a voice over, the title character Marcus Luttrel (Mark Wahlberg), describes what is happening, and why these men subject themselves beyond the breaking point.  Unfortunately for me, Wahlberg comes from the mumbling school of acting.  I found myself straining to understand what he was saying.  I do have some hearing loss so that doesn't help.(other mumblers include Brando, DeNiro, and Duvall)  
     The story is the recounting of an ill fated mission in Afghanistan, undertaken by four Navy Seals, called Operation Red Wings.  The goal is to capture or kill a notorious Taliban leader; Armad Shah.  As a "war" movie there are a lot of scenes that seem familiar; and why not?  The "war movie" genre has been a staple since WWI.  (The Big Parade 1926, All Quiet on the Western Front 1930).  Usually about half the running time is spent developing the characters.  For a film to have a true impact it is necessary for viewers to care about at least one of the characters.  Unfortunately scant time is spent on developing the characters of "Lone Survivor".  Not to say that I didn't care about our boys in uniform.  I just think that my emotions could have been heightened with the proper set up.  The more people you care about in a movie the more visceral your reaction to the film. Make no mistake, "Lone Survivor" is as visceral a film as you will ever want to see.  Once they come under attack "Lone Survivor" is as unrelenting and dire as any movie ever made.  The violence is sickening but the part that is really disgusting is that it is very real.  Unlike the cartoonish violence of say a Tarrentino film, all the action in this film is depicted as accurately as possible.  The director used autopsy records and incident reports from the Seals, as well as hiring Luttrel for technical advice to insure accuracy.  The result is the most accurate and realistic warfare scenes since the storming of Normandy in "Saving Private Ryan".  
     I did not realize it but Afghanistan has terrain which looks very similar to the North Cascades of Washington State.  It is on wooded mountain slopes and over cliffs that the fight takes place.  This really ratchets up the tension level.  The sound editing and stunts are pretty incredible.  You feel as though you are crawling through the underbrush with limited visibility. Suddenly you hear twigs break, branches crackle, and bullets whizzing by your head.  The action happens so fast it barely gives one time to think.  Only watch and experience.   Like "Saving Private Ryan" or "Schindler's List"  there is some difficult viewing here.  Still it is worth watching and I would even say necessary.  Only when we all see the horrors of war can we truly appreciate our service men and women.  And hopefully motivate the powers that be to avoid war at all costs.
This is probably not a good date movie.
I give this film a grade of: B+