**1/2
12 Strong is a competent enough film with enough
heart and soul that make for a worthwhile trip to the cinema. However, it is
riddled with shortcomings and missed opportunities that, unfortunately, glare
just a little too brightly. It is all the more frustrating considering just how
remarkable the true story is.
For those unfamiliar, here is the abridged version of the story: the
titular “12 Strong” were formally known as ODA 595, the very first Special
Forces unit sent to Afghanistan following the terrorist attacks of September
11. Their mission was to join forces with a collective of Uzbek warlords to
drive the Taliban out of Afghan city Mazar-I-Sharif. The twist of the story, for
lack of a better term: they were required to travel by horseback.
One of the finer elements of 12 Strong is the tension as a
result of these circumstances. The barren vistas of Afghanistan project the
enemy’s presence everywhere and nowhere all at once. Not only are these men
forced to confront a foreign enemy in a foreign landscape, but they must do it
by way of unconventional and vulnerable transportation. To top it all off, the
vast majority of ODA 595 have no idea how to even ride a horse. When it comes time to do battle, the horses
make for an interesting spin on a depiction of modern warfare. I was fondly
reminded of certain battle scenes from Red Dawn, and this isn’t meant to
come off as an insult.
Beyond this, 12 Strong is a film that rises and sets things up
only to hit plateaus: it never goes downhill, per se, but never continues to
rise, either.
Leading ODA 595 is Captain Mitch Nelson (Chris Hemsworth), and here is
one of the film’s biggest issues. It is nothing to do with Hemsworth’s
performances (he is just fine), not even anything to do with the character. In
a team of twelve with one hell of a story to tell their grandchildren, only
Captain Nelson has any significant presence and contribution to the ordeal. The
remaining eleven are almost completely shoved to the sidelines, regardless of
the talent cast in the roles, and there is some notable talent on display here
(including Michael Shannon, one of the most striking actors working today).
Granted, the other eleven do have moments here and there that bring out
the individual behind the uniform, commonly through jokes and quips exchanged between
the troops. I found myself particularly compelled by Trevante Rhodes (of Moonlight
fame) and his charming bond with a young Uzbek boy. The key word is “moments”,
though, only hints at traits that ultimately fail to flesh out a complete
character, and the Rhodes/Uzbek boy side story is no exception.
If there is any plateau that 12 Strong overcomes, it is the
dynamic between Captain Nelson and General Dostum (Navid Negahban), the leader
of the Uzbek warlords, and this is undoubtedly the strongest element of the
film. Long story short, here are two men from completely opposite ends of the
globe, completely foreign to each other’s lifestyles and cultures. Both have
been wronged by the atrocities of the Taliban. While there are no buried
prejudices between these two men, neither of them are completely sure if they
want to take chances working side-by-side. How ironic that all that brings them
together is their mutual enemy. It sounds horribly cliché, but I assure you it
is anything but.
If I were to set the good and bad of 12 Strong on a scale,
neither would outweigh the other. For me, it’s a weird position to be in: I
enjoyed enough of it to recommend it, but I was distracted by the issues enough
to score it only a 2 ½. At its core, though, it is a popcorn-grade war film. If
that’s all you’re looking for (or if you’re willing to settle), I can’t say you’ll
be disappointed. If you’re hoping for a transcendent depiction of an amazing
story, I’m not making you any promises.
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