The Covenant (2023)
Here's a full review of The Covenant (directed by Guy Ritchie, starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Dar Salim) — covering its strengths, weaknesses and whether it's worth watching.
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What it's about
The film follows U.S. Army Sergeant John Kinley (Jake Gyllenhaal) and Afghan interpreter Ahmed (Dar Salim). After being ambushed in Afghanistan and stranded behind enemy lines, Kinley is helped to survive by Ahmed. Later, when Ahmed and his family are not given safe passage as promised, Kinley feels indebted and returns to war-torn terrain to rescue them.
It's a straightforward story of brotherhood, moral obligation and survival under extreme circumstances.
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What works
Performances: Dar Salim stands out as Ahmed — he brings warmth, quiet resolve and a complex humanity to the role. Common Sense Media notes that “Ahmed … is a wonderfully rounded character: very smart, endlessly resourceful.” Jake Gyllenhaal, as usual, commits fully.
Emotional core: The idea of a “covenant” (a bond, a pact, a debt) between two men from very different cultures gives the film a genuine emotional weight rather than just being mindless action.
Directorial craft: Guy Ritchie stepping out of his gangster/comedy comfort zone and into war drama offers some fresh energy. The action sequences are well-shot and the terrain/setting feel real enough. Critics consensus: “A satisfying, well-acted war thriller with surprising dramatic depths.”
Topical relevance: Although fictional, the film pulls from real-world issues of interpreters who helped western forces and then were left behind. That gives it more than just entertainment value.
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What doesn't work
Simplistic handling of themes: While the emotional thread is strong, the depiction of war, the enemy (the Taliban, in this case) and the geopolitical backdrop is somewhat flattened. As Common Sense Media puts it: “The Taliban are depicted as pure evil: faceless, relentless villains pouring into battle by the hundreds like hordes of video game zombies…”
Action/realism issues: Some audience members on Reddit criticize the military gear, tactics and cinematic choices as unrealistic or poorly executed:
> “the military parts of the movie – weapons, gear, uniforms, tactics, are so bad…”
Tone and expectations: Some viewers say the movie “didn't feel like a Guy Ritchie film” in the sense that it lacks certain stylistic flourishes or originality—they expected more.
Box office and audience awareness: Despite strong reviews from critics (Rotten Tomatoes 82% ). Some suggest poor marketing and war fatigue may have hampered its reach.
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My verdict
The Covenant is very good, even if it doesn't reach “great.” If you're looking for a war film with heart, good performances, and less macho spectacle than many action-thrillers, this fits the bill. For viewers who demand gritty realism, thematic depth or novel filmmaking, it might leave you wanting a little more.
Rating: 3.5 / 5 stars
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