Lone Survivor

Say what you will, but that's the way it really is today, unfortunately. Two hours of pain that is palpable, both physically and mentally, which, with its riveting formal structure and surprisingly strong emotional impact, earned my warm sympathy and admiration. Only Spielberg's landing in Normandy and the action sequences in Coppola's Apocalypse Now have so far evoked such a realistic impression in me within the genre – naturalism almost free of the usual Hollywood clichés and that, although by the end I was feeling the compulsive need to hold a bag of popcorn in my hand, successfully suppresses commercial trappings in favour of authenticity and an extraordinary viewing experience. Moreover, it presents as great heroes ordinary Afghan civilians who have not forgotten to use their hearts and who don't give a damn about the Taliban. In short, Peter Berg has finally started to interest me properly, Mark Wahlberg has definitely become an excellent actor and I regret very much that I didn't catch this movie in the cinema, I would have added that fifth star otherwise. 85% (02/08/2014)

Berg serves us with cool action in another bungled Navy Seals raid in Afghanistan. Because it’s based on real events makes the movie that more powerful. Especially the number of hits the heroes take before they really expire. The fairly realistic treatment then slips into Bay-isms, but that doesn’t bother me so much, it’s just that Lone Survivor doesn’t turn out so naturalistic. The cast is excellent, especially Kitsch and Foster are outstanding. (01/14/2014)

I suspect an agitational order from the Department of Defense selling one of its "based on a true story" films. I do not deny the power of the plot, nor the willingness to bow before the fallen and salute the bereaved. From the middle onwards, I was just terribly annoyed by Berg's direction, which pushes pathos out of the screen (in slow-mo so long that it borders on parody), gradually losing contact with the protagonists, who become nothing more than bodies falling from rocks, covered in bloody welts. The first contact, without music and with a "predator" camera, is flawless, but I simply don't think the constant subjective close-ups of faces create the right action military drama. In the final act, I felt ashamed for the creators. It’s only functional as an acted intermezzo for "Medal of Honor." (11/01/2014)

It is closest in its formal concept to Black Hawk Down, but it doesn't have the same quality action or the same narrative value. Peter Berg made it for blokes, but he only managed to create a mediocre raw survival action flick where marines, shot up like a sieve, fly around rocks and perform all kinds of stunts that you can imagine. He was able to create a good military atmosphere, and has observed and listened, but unfortunately the ending  terrible, similar to Tears of the Sun, to which is this one is very similar in terms of the screenplay. (07/26/2014)

The introduction is OK. The middle – and longest – survival part of the film is stunning, visually well-arranged and efficiently conveyed, with several chillingly brutal scenes. The climax is ridiculously simplistic political propaganda for the average US viewer. Overall, Lone Survivor is good film for relaxation, but it will sink into oblivion as fast as all of Peter Berg’s action flicks. (01/16/2014)