I dunno if any of you have noticed, but there has been a trend the past few years of releasing a movie with a patriotic theme — based on true events — in wide release during the month of January.
Let me give you some examples:
“Lone Survivor” — Jan. 10, 2014
“American Sniper” — Jan. 16, 2015
“13 Hours” — Jan. 15, 2016
“Patriots Day” — Jan. 13, 2017
The latest participant in this trend is the movie “12 Strong” — released Jan. 19, 2018.
“12 Strong” recounts the story of the first U.S. Special Forces team — “Green Berets” — sent to Afghanistan in the weeks following the 9/11 attacks.
The team — Operational Detachment Alpha (ODA) 595 — is led by Capt. Mitch Nelson (Chris Hemsworth). Nelson was set to take on a “staff duty” assignment prior to 9/11 under Lt. Col. Max Bowers (Rob Riggle), but twists his way back into command of ODA 595.
ODA 595 is ordered to team up with the Northern Alliance in an attempt to take down the Taliban and Al-Qaeda. The Northern Alliance leader is Gen. Abdul Rashid Dostum (Navid Negahban).
The relationship with Gen. Dostum is uneasy at first. But disparate soldiers forge a bond as they attempt to thwart enemy forces, and help Dostum capture Mazar-i Sharif.
The movie is based on the non-fiction novel “Horse Soldiers” by Doug Stanton.
In the course of events, the men of ODA 595 have to take to horseback with their Northern Alliance comrades — the most practical way to move around the mountainous terrain in the region.
I wasn’t all that familiar with the story of the “Horse Soldiers.” The first I heard about Operational Detachment Alpha was a reference in former special operator Jack Carr’s novel “The Terminal List” (read my review) about another team with the 5th Special Forces Group called “Triple Nickel” (ODA 555).
I didn’t see “12 Strong” in the theater. The reviews were somewhat tepid. I watched it this week on Blu-ray.
I must say, I enjoyed the film.
While “12 Strong” doesn’t have the visceral intensity or emotional impact of “Lone Survivor” and “American Sniper,” it is an interesting story.
The cinematography is gorgeous (the film was shot in New Mexico, like “Lone Survivor”).
There are also some solid performances.
I wasn’t sure how Chris Hemsworth would be in this role (he’s almost become synonymous with his portrayal of Thor), but he did a good job of playing a confident leader who had spent a career training, but lacking in any sort of significant combat experience.
Michael Shannon was solid in his portrayal of Chief Warrant Office Hal Spencer — a veteran soldier who was set to retire, but who re-ups and goes to bat on behalf Nelson Lt. Col. Bowers. Shannon is one of today’s “under the radar” character actors, and he did a fine job in his supporting role.
I’m not familiar with the previous work of Navid Negahban, who played Gen. Abdul Dostum, but his portrayal of the crafty veteran fighter might be the movie’s most intriguing character.
There is a featurette on the “12 Strong” Blu-ray highlighting the creation of the monument that was erected in honor of the “Horse Soldier’s” heroic efforts in the aftermath of 9/11.
“America’s Response Monument” — subtitled De Oppresso Liber — is a bronze statue of a Green Beret mounted on horseback carrying an M4 rifle.
The statue is in Liberty Park (overlooking the National September 11 Memorial & Museum).
If I ever make a trip to New York City, I definitely plan to see the monument.
One of the more enjoyable moments in the film was when the team was being airlifted in a Chinook helicopter to the combat zone, and the men launch into a rendition of “The Ballad of the Green Beret.”
When I was a kid, my dad rented “The Green Berets” at Applause Video here in Omaha for us to watch. Not only did that movie make me a fan of John Wayne, it created a fascination in my psyche as it regarded the United States military and the men and women who serve to protect our country.
While “12 Strong” might not be the greatest military-minded movie out there, it is interesting, and worth a watch.
No comments:
Post a Comment