Guy Ritchie's The Covenant

Guy Ritchie is hit or miss with me because, while I like many of his movies, there are a few that I really hate.  Last night I went to see his latest, The Covenant, and it is definitely in the former category because I really enjoyed it!  During the war in Afghanistan, many locals are recruited as interpreters with the promise of visas for them and their families.  Ahmed (Dar Salim) also wants revenge against the Taliban for killing his son and agrees to work with Sgt. John Kinley (Jake Gyllenhaal).  Kinley's platoon is ambushed while searching for explosive devices and he and Ahmed are the only survivors.  They spend several days eluding the Taliban, who have placed a significant bounty on their heads, but Kinley is eventually shot.  Through an incredible act of will, Ahmed carries Kinley over treacherous terrain for several days to save his life and get him back to his base.  Once Kinley is back home in the U.S. he learns that Ahmed and his family have gone into hiding so, feeling incredibly guilty about a situation for which he feels responsible, he tries to get help from the government but encounters bureaucracy and endless red tape.  He eventually decides that he must return to Afghanistan, at great personal risk, to find Ahmed himself.  Gyllenhaal provides the intensity that he is known for in the portrayal of a soldier who feels a debt of honor that must be repaid but there are also some moments of vulnerability, especially in a powerful scene where he confronts his former commanding officer, that I found very moving.  However, Salim's quietly devastating performance is absolutely riveting!  He is able to express so many emotions with very little dialogue, such as the extreme exertion required to transport Kinley through the mountains, the fear of discovery when he encounters the Taliban, and the relief he feels when Kinley finds him.  Gyllenhaal and Salim have tremendous chemistry together and I was particularly impressed by a scene featuring just their profiles across from each other because they are able to communicate their relationship brilliantly.  The action sequences are extremely well done and Ritchie's signature style puts the audience in the middle of the firefight with the soldiers, most notably in the tension filled climactic battle (I could hardly breathe).  This is a thoroughly entertaining action thriller (with a bit of commentary about the military’s failure to protect the citizens of Afghanistan who collaborated with them tacked on for good measure) and I highly recommend it.