The Covenant

While downplaying the more kinetic action sequences for which he’s become best known, Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant shows restraint dictated by its more character-driven subject matter.

In this stylish and immersive thriller saluting military courage and sacrifice, there are still shootouts and harrowing high-stakes chases. But it resonates most powerfully by finding a fresh perspective on familiar themes of brotherhood and loyalty along the front lines.

While its broader social commentary about American foreign policy during the war in Afghanistan is muddled, the film thoughtfully balances its visceral intensity with an underlying humanity.

The story follows John Kinley (Jake Gyllenhaal), an Army Special Forces sergeant whose unit is trying to root out Taliban operatives. After losing his Afghan interpreter to an explosion, Kinley quickly hires Ahmed (Dar Salim), an auto mechanic trying to earn money — and more importantly, an immigrant visa — to safely start a family with his pregnant wife.

Their relationship starts rocky, with both men uncertain about the other’s motives. Kinley bristles when Ahmed oversteps his bounds on multiple occasions to suggest strategy based on his knowledge of the terrain or the culture. His instincts prove valuable, however, especially after a confrontation with rebel soldiers leaves Kinley with severe wounds and Ahmed as his only hope for survival.

After he returns home, Kinley sees an opportunity to honor their bond and repay his debt to Ahmed, but at what cost?

Although it’s not based on a specific true story, the screenplay by Ritchie along with frequent collaborators Ivan Atkinson and Marn Davies (Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre) attempts to put names and faces to numbers and statistics.

At its core, the film unspools a story of trust, of lack thereof, during times of war, when subconscious biases are heightened, and arbitrary distinctions can be forged between friends and enemies.

With limited contextual details, the film sometimes struggles to sustain its tension and it becomes more contrived in the second half. However, the two lead actors provide a grounded authenticity, especially the understated portrayal by Salim (The Devil’s Double).

The Covenant sidesteps cheap flag-waving sentimentality in favor of an earnest plea for tolerance and compassion amid sociopolitical barriers, while smartly blurring the traditional lines between heroes and villains.

Rated R, 123 minutes.