Guy Ritchie's The Covenant

2023

2h 3m

IMDb RATING

7.7/10

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14 Videos

99+ Images

War

Action

Thriller

During the war in Afghanistan, a local interpreter risks his own life to carry an injured sergeant across miles of grueling terrain.

Directors

Guy Ritchie

Writers

Ivan Atkinson(screenplay by)

Marn Davies(screenplay by)

Guy Ritchie(screenplay by)

Stars

Jake Gyllenhaal

Dar Salim

Sean Sagar

See production, box office & company info

Top cast

Jake Gyllenhaal

Master Sergeant John Kinley

Ahmed

Charlie 'Jizzy' Crow

Joshua 'JJ' Jung

Tom 'Tom Cat' Hancock

Christian Ochoa

Eduardo 'Chow Chow' Lopez

Steve Kersher

Caroline Kinley

Colonel Vokes

Sergeant Declan O'Brady

Reza Diako

Haadee

James Nelson-Joyce

Jack 'Jack Jack' Jackson

Gary Anthony Stennette

Desk Sergeant

Afghan Man

Eddie Parker

Pooya

Edris

Faraj

Directors

Guy Ritchie

Writers

Ivan Atkinson(screenplay by)

Marn Davies(screenplay by)

Guy Ritchie(screenplay by)

All cast & crew

Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

This strikes me as a "feel good movie" pitched at US audiences. It ultimately makes all the right sounds about military honour and commitment, even when confronted by stubborn bureaucracy and indifference. That said, its only at the end, when you read the "fine print", (300+ interpreters and their families dead) you get to see the scope of the US's lack of commitment to those who collaborated with it, in Afghanistan. I guess the obvious elephant in the living room, is should the US have invaded in the first place? Looking at the facts, the answer is, of course, "no". So much of the misery and loss we see on the ground in this film, probably could have been avoided, had the US stuck to its own borders. The film itself is well made, well acted and directed. Its story does resonate in a humanistic context. The action is well developed too if not entirely convincing. I did a wry smile at how the so called "bad guys", as per usual, seem to be appalling shots. Even when well armed and in large numbers, at close range. Inn summary, well acted, directed, a heartfelt story and lots of mostly engaging action. That said, the historical reality is, the US were invaders in Afghanistan. So perhaps the underlying take away from this, is the need for an end to wasteful wars, that should not be fought.

MovieGuys13 Jun, 2023