The War in Afghanistan has been a part of American lives since September 11, 2001. However, until today, we have not had an accurate representation of what that war looks like today. 12 Strong provides us that missing insight. An inspirational tale about our military heroics, 12 Strong is a very enjoyable way to spend some time in a theater and learn what the Afghan arena of war was like. A hint: it’s not great…
Mitch Nelson (Chris Hemsworth) was ready to give up Captaining his men and live with his family, that is, until he saw what we all saw on TV on September 11. He then pleads with Lt. Colonel Bowers (Rob Riggle) to get his team back and go to Afghanistan. After being persuaded by Nelson’s superior Hal Spencer (Michael Shannon), Mitch gets his team back and heads into the Afghan mountains. Colonel Mulholland (William Fichtner) gives Mitch’s team the big task of supporting General Dostum (Navid Negahban) and his army as they try to overthrow the Taliban. So Captain Nelson and his team including Ben Milo (Trevante Rhodes), Sam Diller (Michael Pena), and Sean Coffers (Geoff Stults), link up with Dostum and attempt to free Northern Pakistan from Taliban control.
As long as the war in Afghanistan has been a part of American life, I can’t remember a great movie about it. We’ve been left with documentaries or photos to paint the picture. Well, 12 Strong paints a great picture of what our soldiers have to go though fighting in Afghanistan. Deep mountains pocket and tribalize the country. General Dostum tries to hold alliances in the North to take down the Taliban, but those people all distrust each other. So when time comes to take cities, Dostum can be hesitant because one of his compatriots might seize more of the city than he gets. Thus, when the Americans free these cities from Taliban rule, there’s very little chance that peace will be stable. When it comes to the battle, air support is nice (and good for Producer Jerry Bruckheimer, explosions EVERYWHERE), but the armies are hidden and pocketed by the mountains, so bombings are only partially successful. In addition, terrain demands horses for Dostum’s army, meaning he’s fighting Al Qaeda tanks with horses. Yikes. That’s not even considering weather elements that make it hard to strike in the winter. And language barriers. 12 Strong paints a bleak picture of why Afghanistan is surrounded by figurative and literal minefields that result in the death of empires.
Though nowhere near the most complex war characters, 12 Strong at least gives us people to believe in. Chris Hemsorth’s Mitch Nelson is the most interesting. His troops believe in him, but Nelson has never been in battle before. However, Hemsworth makes Nelson determined and matter of fact, giving him resolve and “the eye” of a warrior. He wants to rise to the occasion for America, and we want him to do so. Also, his relationship with Navid Negahban is very interesting; Negahban is playing a hardened warrior, and the two play mind games and test each other’s wills in battle, to see if the trust their men place in the leaders is warranted. It’s interesting and compelling performances from Hemsworth and Negahban, and that provides the driving force of the story. The rest of the soldiers get one or two notes to play, but because of their talent, give some texture to the soldiers. Michael Pena is great as the cynical joke maker, reminding me of his End of Watch cop; Michael Shannon plays the old timer ready for one last mission because duty calls as good as Danny Glover in Lethal Weapon; Geoff Stults gets a great monologue that Coffers gives to Nelson after a particularly bloody battle; and Trevante Rhodes forms an adorable bond with his little protector on the battlefield. There’s enough good will generated by the American and Afghan soldiers that when there’s a cavalry charge late in the movie, you are roused like the movie wants you to be, hoping for the best.
12 Strong could have been obsessively jingoistic and patriotic, making the story off putting and essentially, propaganda. Instead, the movie is a well constructed war film about two unlikely allies joining together for a righteous cause in attempting to liberate a country from oppressors. Sure now, that seems cute and facile, but 12 Strong is a good reminder that there are great people like our Special Forces risking their lives for the American Dream. Hi ho Silver, Away!!!