12 Strong (2024)

12 Strong

“Understated” is not a term you would normally attribute to a Jerry Bruckheimer production, yet it surprisingly describes “12 Strong.”

That doesn’t mean it is at all restrained. One can be assured that this work of art about the realities of live heroism in face of terrible odds is an emotionally charged war movie created to inspire patriotism and excitement in equal measure. Set shortly after the September 11, 2001 attacks, “12 Strong” features long drawn out battles with booming explosions and continuous fire shootings. The overall impact is exhausting; as you leave the cinema, you feel like you’ve also been at war yourself and appreciation for those who are.

Danish commercial director Nicolai Fuglsig, making his feature film debut (after having worked as photojournalist) brings grim realism into action instead of sweeping sentimentality. An energetic score adds tension while vibrant sound design immerses us even deeper.

It’s all technically solid. What this movie lacks narrative-wise is more power or drive. Adapted by Ted Tally (the writer of “The Silence of the Lambs“) and Peter Craig (“The Town”) from Doug Stanton’s book “Horse Soldiers: The Extraordinary Story of a Band of U.S. Soldiers Who Rode to Victory in Afghanistan,” “12 Strong” eventually feels bloated and redundant. And the ensemble cast includes some impressive names, but their characters are so thinly sketched they can only do so much.

Chris Hemsworth stars as Capt Mitch Nelson leading a dozen green berets who were first American soldiers on Afghan soil following 9/11.Two other core members include Michael Shannon playing Hal Spencer older experienced chief warrant officer while wisecracking Sam Diller is played by Michael Pena; Trevante Rhodes (from Moonlight) turns up as Ben Milo the weapons expert. Their orders come from William Fichtner’s no-nonsense Col. Mulholland and the totally unsmiling comedian Rob Riggle playing Lt. Col. Bowers who is also a former Marine Corps veteran in an unusual serious role.

They are supposed to go into northern Afghanistan through Uzbekistan, utilizing assistance of the Uzbek warlord General Dostum (Navid Negahban) with his personal motives against Taliban. Together with Dostum and other members of his group, Nelson and his soldiers have to take control over Mazar-I-Sharif which is a stronghold of terrorists in Afghanistan. What the Americans don’t realize, despite extensive training and endless courage, is that this unforgiving terrain destroyed empires for centuries they will need to cross it on horseback before winter comes within next three weeks.

Incredible as this story may be it is also absurd: muscular soldiers with high-tech gear mounted on horses facing tanks and rocket launchers for example. Fuglsig handles these confrontations in an unyielding manner; however he manages to find some swagger, especially as far as Hemsworth’s character is concerned.

This is one of the more enticing dynamics here, which does not generally fit a character usually played by the hunky Hemsworth. Here, he’s too beautiful, too youthful. He has inadequate field experience and always needs to establish himself. This is mainly true in Nelson’s ever changing relationship with Dostum, who represents the mystical wise man. While Negahban is formidable with his gentle demeanor during tense moments.

Of course, Hemsworth can handle the physical part of this role he is Thor after all but people tend to overlook his acting abilities which are both dramatic and comic in nature. As well there is an engaging camaraderie between him and Shannon or Pena as best buds go. However, save for a sweet subplot involving Rhodes’ character, the rest of the crew hardly fills up on screen. They are conceptual; they are components.

Similarly, “12 Strong” doesn’t really examine further into what US’ long stay in Afghanistan implies on a bigger scale. However that’s not its aim and that’s not why you’re actually watching it anyway. You’re here to feel good about some men who were great even if for just a little while.

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