Tag: Trevante Rhodes

With the start of a new movie year, the multiplex will present another entry in the genre that seems to have become a January tradition: the “inspired by true events” action thriller set in a recent military conflict. Although several had limited December releases in NY and LA to qualify for Oscars, most had a “wide” release this month: LONE SURVIVOR in 2014, AMERICAN SNIPER in 2015, and 13 HOURS in 2016. Many have a “name” action star leading the charge, like Mark Wahlberg and Bradley Cooper. This time it’s Thor himself, Chris Hemsworth, prominent in the posters, looking determined while astride his black stallion. You heard that right, on horseback. So, in some ways this could be a modern wartime western. We just had a reboot of THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN, so this flick goes five better to tell the tale of a dozen fighting men , they’re definitely 12 STRONG.

Using archival news footage, the film begins with a refresher history lesson, showing us the terrorist strikes against the US, emanating from desert soil, going back nearly twenty years. Cut to that chilly September morning in 2001. Watching the towers collapse with his family is Captain Mitch Nelson (Hemsworth).The other special forces “Green Berets” that Nelson had recently led in training exercises, including Hal Spencer (Michael Shannon) and Sam Diller (Michael Pena) hurriedly report for duty. Their commanding officers Lt. Bowers (Rob Riggle) and Col. Mulholland (William Fichtner) are pleased to have them , but balk at their insistence that Nelson lead them (he’s not “battle tested”). They need a small crack unit to aid air support in pinpointing enemy targets in Afghanistan and unite and assist local militia forces during a six-week mission. During the interview/audition Nelson insists he can complete the task in three weeks, well before the crippling Winter snow storms, with no casualties. After a brief debate, Nelson’s team is selected. Soon the men parachute into a remote area, where the leader of one of the major militia forces, Gen. Dostum (Navid Neghban) greets them. Heading to their base of operations, Nelson is surprised to see that they’ve no real military transport other than horses. And there’s not enough for all of the special forces. The team splits, with Spencer waiting for more horses, and Nelson joining Dostum’s group as they relay Al Queda’s location to the planes that will rain destruction upon them. But will Nelson and Dostum be able to work together and meet the seasonal deadline?

Trading in his Asgardian armor for camo khakis, Hemsworth is still the confident action hero of any genre. With his steely gaze and confidence, it’s no wonder that his men will not question his command. But he still gives us a hint of concern over his ability to keep his promise of getting everyone home for the holidays, And we get a bit of his tender side in the opening scenes at home (kudos to the producers for casting Hemsworth’s real life wife, Elsa Pataky, as Mrs. Nelson). Shannon gets a welcome furlough from his usual sinister scowling villain (so great in the recent THE SHAPE OF WATER) as Hemsworth’s trusted aide and pal (what a terrific team). More soft spoken than his brothers in arms, the sadness comes through his weary eyes when he must bid goodbye to his sullen pre-teen son. Pena provides some welcome comic relief as the eager soldier struggling to control his horse (a ride of any distance seems to be agony to his tender backside). His farewell scene balances humor and tenderness as he begs his wife for a memorable last night. The rest of the squad doesn’t get a lot of back story and screen time, though Trevante Rhodes (the final incarnation of the main character in last year’s Best Picture winner MOONLIGHT) has a sweet subplot involving a young Afghan militia member who follows him constantly (to protect). Negahban is full of bluster and fury as the general who finally learns the benefits of compromise, and make a great sparring partner to Hemsworth.

Despite the efforts of the talented ensemble, the film suffers from the somewhat repetitive nature of the mission that propels the story. The troops ride, squabble, joke then encounter the enemy and engage in furious fire fights.Then repeat. Until the big final showdown. Luckily grenades and rocket launchers provide some relief from rifles and pistols (and those head scarfs can hide lots of exploding SFX blood packs). Couple that with the interchangeable desert settings (I know that’s the layout of the land) and director Nicolai Fuglsig struggles in vain to break the pacing monotony that sets in. He does shuffle things up a bit to give the bad guys a human face. One enemy leader named Razzan (in all black with heavy eyeliner, looking like a nomadic Snidely Whiplash) executes an innocent, which sets up a crowd-pleasing final showdown. The story of these brave men is certainly worth of a cinematic salute, but this often sluggish recreation stifles the courageous tale of those heroic 12 STRONG.

3 Out of 5