Released: January 2018
Director: Nicolai Fuglsig
Rated R
Run Time: 130 Minutes
Distributor: Warner Bros.
Genre: Action/Drama/History
Cast:
Chris Hemsworth: Captain Mitch Nelson
Michael Shannon: Hal Spencer
Michael Pena: Sam Diller
Navid Negahban: General Dostum
Trevante Rhodes: Ben Milo
Geoff Stults: Sean Coffers
Thad Luckinbill: Vern Michaels
William Fichtner: Colonel Mulholland
When the terrorists struck New York on September 11, 2001, the entire world knew that we were at war. While it wasn’t the first terrorist attack, it was by far the most devastating. Yet, despite the enormous tragedy of the situation, the people of the United States and from around the world came together. While it didn’t last, the only thing that 9/11 really proved was that by coming together, the United States and a huge chunk of the world became a force that Al-Quaida could never hope to defeat. It wasn’t very long before the US Armed Forces were deployed to the Middle East, specifically Afghanistan and Pakistan, because that’s where military intelligence and the CIA figured that Bin Laden was hiding. Say what you will about the war in Iraq, but it was the war in Afghanistan that I feel that most people were okay with. The movie that I bring you today tells the story of the first Special Forces unit that was sent into Afghanistan: The ODA 595 of the 5th Special Forces Group. The movie: 12 Strong.
The film opens with Captain Mitch Nelson as he moves into a new house with his wife and daughter on September 11, 2001 when he sees on the news that the World Trade Center was hit by planes. Afterwards, he volunteers to lead the first group of American soldiers into Afghanistan. Aided by CWO(Chief Warrant Officer)Hal Spencer and a handful of other soldiers, Nelson heads to Afghanistan to meet up with General Dostum, who leads a third of the fractured Northern Alliance. Their mission: To liberate the Taliban-occupied city of Mazar-I-Sharif. I never read the Horse Soldiers book, upon which this movie was based, but I did do some research into the actual mission that would eventually cause the Taliban to lose control. According to some of the soldiers that were there as well as other sources, 12 Strong is surprisingly accurate. Obviously, with a movie that deals with history, you would expect there to be some artistic and dramatic liberties taken to keep audiences engaged and entertained. 12 Strong is no different. While I wouldn’t necessarily say that the film is deep in any way, it does highlight one of the most important events in the early days of the War on Terror. I decided to actually look it up. It’s really cool that we had Special Forces troops riding horses into battle. The last time US soldiers rode into battle on horses was 1942. So, yeah. That’s awesome.
There were some details that were changed for the movie like some of the soldiers’ names, mostly to protect the soldiers’ identities. Some of the timeline was not accurate, but again, pacing and keeping the audience engaged were important. They also got a lot of details right, right down to the hair color and personality of one General Dostum, who would go on to become the vice president of Afghanistan. The whole scene where they give vodka as a gift to Dostum actually happened. There were a huge number of details that they got right. I won’t go into the ones that they got wrong, because those were actually not a huge nitpick. At least, not for me. The acting in the film is pretty good with Chris Hemsworth leading the charge as Captain Mitch Nelson. I have to say, I’ve really gotten to like Chris Hemsworth as an actor, because he really puts everything into whatever he does. Yeah, he’s known for Thor, but he’s really come into his own as an actor. Michael Shannon has quickly become one of my favorite actors with roles in Man of Steel and The Shape of Water. He brings a unique intensity that you tend to gravitate towards, and he is just fantastic as Hal Spencer. Navid Negahban plays General Dostum, and is genuinely delightful in the role. You know that the character is a warlord and has changed sides in the past, so you have no idea what he’s going to do. Once you begin to understand the character’s story, you really begin to understand where he’s coming from and why he is the way he is. Overall, the acting is really good here.
The action sequences in the film are incredible. But that’s where I have some minor gripes. This is a stunning movie. It’s got some really incredible cinematography. Apparently New Mexico makes for a pretty decent substitute for Afghanistan and the ruggedness of the terrain is incredible. This is a Jerry Bruckheimer production, so a lot of the shots and action are pretty slick. However, I think it’s a little too slick for my taste, especially when you’re dealing with desert warfare with horses. It’s not as gritty and violent as I think it should be. Don’t get me wrong, the film is definitely violent and earns its R-rating, but it comes across as a little too clean. That being said, when things blow up, they blow up. I would not actually characterize 12 Strong as a war movie. It’s not gritty or brutal enough. It’s an action movie through and through. Depending on how you look at it, that could be a bad thing. Ultimately, I don’t, because it is a lot of fun to watch and most of the effects and explosions are real. While there are some slight issues with the action, it’s still pretty solid.
I was rather surprised at how engaged I was with this film. It really drew me in with its performances, action and overall story. This was not a story that I had heard before with the Horse Soldiers. It sounds too incredible to be true, but as they say: Truth is stranger than fiction. The care and attention to detail that is shown in the film surprised the hell out of me. This is one of those stories that could have ended up like say….Michael Bay’s Pearl Harbor. Thank god it didn’t, but it could have. I regret not seeing this one in theaters, but it is one that is worth seeing. It’s an incredibly true story that needed to be told, and while the actual mission was declassified shortly after it happened, not a lot of people knew about it. There is a monument to the Horse Soldiers of the 595 in New York City.
My respect and admiration for the US Armed Forces will always be there, regardless of where our politicians send them. I hope it’s for the right reasons, but even so, knowing that they put their lives on the line to protect our way of life is not a feeling I can describe. I just hope that they earn the respect and admiration of the American people, regardless of politics and creed. 12 Strong is a movie about the courage of 12 men who went up against incredible odds and succeeded, and I think that’s something to be proud of.
My Final Recommendation: 9/10