Review Details

REVIEW

March 17, 2023

Guy Ritchie's The Covenant

Guy Ritchie's The Covenant is a compelling and thought-provoking war film that explores the human toll of the conflict in Afghanistan.

Story: In the midst of the War in Afghanistan, Sergeant John Kinley enlists the help of local Afghan interpreter, Ahmed, to assist his unit in their missions. Despite his reluctance, Ahmed agrees to help due to his financial struggles and personal vendetta against the Taliban. During a confrontation with the Taliban, Kinley is injured and Ahmed risks his life to save him. Once Kinley returns to the United States, he discovers that Ahmed and his family are in danger and hiding from the Taliban. When U.S. authorities refuse to intervene, Kinley decides to take matters into his own hands.

Cast: Guy Ritchie writes and directs the film with Ivan Atkinson and Mark Davies co-writing, and features the main cast of Jake Gyllenhaal and Dar Salim.

Review: Guy Ritchie's The Covenant is a significant departure from the director's usual work. The film is a sombre and contemplative exploration of the aftermath of war, with none of the snarky one-liners that Ritchie has become known for.

The movie is set in Afghanistan in 2018, 17 years after the war began following the 9/11 attacks. The story centres around Sgt. John Kinley (Jake Gyllenhaal), who leads a small unit tasked with locating and destroying IEDs. His translator, Ahmed (Dar Salim), is an experienced combatant and understands the enemy's mindset. When Kinley's unit is ambushed, Ahmed's early warning allows them to avoid the trap. The two become partners in the wilderness, with Ahmed transporting the injured Kinley to safety. In return, Kinley tries to get Ahmed and his family to safety, but bureaucratic red tape and betrayal complicate their escape.

The Covenant is less focused on the traditional prestigious aspects of a jingoistic war movie, instead favouring a more contemplative tone. The film doesn't devolve into a generic bonding experience between men with vastly different backgrounds, but rather focuses on the dual heroism of Kinley and Ahmed. Ahmed acts on his own internal code of honour, not because they have become "friends." This different approach makes the story feel more grounded in reality and less of a Hollywoodized version of events.

While the movie does devolve into a traditional action film in the last act, it doesn't take away from the sombre and contemplative tone of the rest of the movie. The Covenant is a poignant exploration of the aftermath of war, with a sense of sadness underlying the triumph.

Despite being billed as Guy Ritchie's The Covenant, there's nothing particularly flashy about the movie, which could be a reason why it may not do well at the box office. However, it's one of the best things that Ritchie has done since Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, and it's definitely worth watching.