Lone Survivor

Peter Berg's latest directorial effort, the Navy SEALs drama Lone Survivor, is no better than a limp retelling that fails to get underneath the surface of the actual story.

Despite the lack of character development, watching these guys struggle to prevail was enthralling and heartbreaking all at once.

For all its flaws it is both a gripping action thriller and an unforgettable depiction of the cold realities of war. My first reaction after seeing it was a simple one: this must be how it was. It may be the highest tribute I can pay.

While the violence is horrifying, the encasing narrative is perversely "heroic", with corn-fed dialogue presented as solidly non-ironic, and images of the real-life combatants used to stirring, manipulative ends.

An occasionally smart script - and four excellent actors - keep the project grounded.

Lone Survivor does a magnificent job of making disorder intelligible. It's not a very nice film. But it is a splendidly effective one.

Lone Survivor is an amazing war film that explores the idea of brotherhood and sacrifice in some of the best ways we’ve ever seen.

Lone Survivor’s major saving grace is that it never resorts to actual flag-waving, but enough pro-military overtones subsist in the material to consider it an effective recruiting video.

Peter Berg goes beyond the call of duty to forge a bond between the audience and the film's forlorn, leaving us hoping that the expected doesn't end up coming true.

At its core it isn't a propaganda film or a slice of patriotism; instead it's a stark reminder of the camaraderie of soldiers in the field.