Movie Review - Guy Ritchie's THE COVENANT

It is not often that the BankofMarquis is surprised about a film, but with Guy Ritchie’s THE COVENANT, a surprise was certainly had. What was thought to be a jingoistic shoot-em-up by the the maker of LOCK, STOCK AND TWO SMOKING BARRELS turns out to be a thoughtful, taught, tense and well-acted character study of bravery under fire and honoring a debt that needs to be paid.

Jake Gyllenhall (always a mark of quality) stars in this film as Sgt. John Kinley who’s squad is assigned to find hidden caches of I.E.D’s during the Afghanistan war in the mid-2000’s (the majority of this film is set in about 2008). Kinley comes to know and respect his interpreter, Ahmed (Dar Salim - more on him later) and the story becomes more than just a war story with intense action - it becomes a character study of friendship under fire.

Gyllenhall, as expected, is stellar in the role of Kinley a war-weary veteran who just wants to do his job and get home to his family. As stated above, Gyllenhall has become a mark of quality for the BankofMarquis, so when he is in a film, the BankofMarquis sits up a little taller in their chair and pays attention and he doesn’t disappoint here. He brings a steadfast grounding to the film and his plight - and his reactions - seemed like something someone that seems to be based in fact.

He is ably assisted (in what is, essentially, a 2-character film) by newcomer (at least to the BankofMarquis) Dar Salim (he played Qotho in GAME OF THRONES, so there’s that…). Salim more than holds his own with Gyllenhall and when he needs to carry much of the weight of the 2nd act of this film he does so capably and professionally. This role is a career maker for Salim and here’s to hoping there is plenty more to come from him.

The credit for this, surprisingly (at least to the BankofMarquis) goes to filmmaker Guy Ritchie who eschews his usual over-the-top histrionics to construct a grounded, realistic tale of friendship born out of blood. And, when the film calls for gritty, tense action (and there is plenty of that), Ritchie delivers that with a straightforwardness that heretofore was not expected in a Guy Ritchie film. It is, probably, the best Directed film of Ritchie’s career and it shows a filmmaker maturing and coming into his own.

A very pleasant surprise - and (as of this moment) the Best Film viewed thus far of the 2023 releases, Guy Ritchie’s THE COVENANT is well worth checking out. Come for the tense battle scenes, stay for the relationship building.

Letter Grade: A-

8 stars (out of 10) and you can take that to the Bank(ofMarquis)