Lone Survivor (2013) Mark Wahlberg, Taylor Kitsch, Emile Hirsch, Ben Foster Movie Review

Lone Survivor (2013)   3/53/53/53/53/5


Mark Wahlberg in Lone Survivor (2013)

Bravery Under Fire

Navy Seal, Marcus Luttrell (Mark Wahlberg) and his team; Michael (Taylor Kitsch), Danny (Emile Hirsch), Matt (Ben Foster) are sent in on a mission to kill a notorious Taliban leader. But as they lay low in the hills some goat herders come along and the men are forced to capture them as they try to work out what to do next. But after following the rules of engagement they find themselves in a battle to survive as they end up out numbered and pinned down n the mountains.

When it comes to some movies the power of connection can not be underestimated. Take "Lone Survivor" here is a movie which first can connect with people who know the true story of Marcus Luttrell and as such get to experience what happened in the shape of a movie, one which having watched I get a sense mixed the truth with some Hollywood flare to make it work as entertainment. And then there are those men and women who having seen active service can probably connect with the situations be it Marcus and his team as they are pinned down or the men in the control centre unable to act due to no communication.

Taylor Kitsch in Lone Survivor (2013)

But here is the thing; I can't connect to "Lone Survivor" in either of those ways and as such maybe my opinion of this movie is not so enthusiastic as others. Although having said that as a pseudo realistic drama about 4 men pinned down in the mountains it is an extremely effective movie if at times a little Hollywood when it comes to the almost indestructible nature of these men. You genuinely feel like you are pinned down with these men as they come under fire and end up not just shot but battered from the various falls they take.

As such credit not only goes to the Hollywood cast for their commitment to the role but also the make up department for making ever bullet home and gash to their body looking real. But the real credit goes to director Peter Berg as it is his skill which turns this true story into this edge of your seat drama which has you gripped and excited but just as much repulsed by the brutality all of which with out ever really establishing strong back stories to start with,

What this all boils down to is that "Lone Survivor" is an extremely powerful movie and one which even if you feel no connection to the characters or the situation still manages to get you gripped. But I am sure this movie is even more powerful if you do have that connection to start with.


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