Review| 12 Strong
It’s early in a new year which, apparently, means we’re due for another war movie release focusing on a single person or event. 12 Strong is the latest of this fashion, following in the footsteps of films like 13 Hours (Jan. 2016), American Sniper (Jan. 2014), and Lone Survivor (Jan. 2013). This time around it’s the story of the first Special Forces team deployed to Afghanistan after 9/11 that gets the spotlight. Chris Hemsworth trades in Mjolnir for an M16 and stars as new Captain Mitch Nelson, who must lead his team in a cooperative effort with Afghanistan tribal forces against the Taliban. I personally love that stories like this are getting their time in front of the eyes of Americans, whether in be in writing or in film. We learn much about the valor and dedication of the men and women protecting our national safety and freedoms, and I would be quite content with such stories solidifying themselves as an unofficial annual cycle at the theater.
It’s immediately apparent from the posters that the film is leaning heavily on the star-power of Chris Hemsworth, as it should. For the most part that’s a good choice. He is a handsome, muscular guy that anyone would rightly fear, but he doesn’t necessarily strike you as a mud n’ muck kind of soldier with battle experience. His character begins the story as the latter, but needs to end as the former. Much of the success of the film is tied to Hemsworth’s ability to make that transition over the course of 130 minutes. In some senses he accomplishes this. His decisiveness in the strategy room translates to decisiveness on the battle field, and he believably portrays a leader feeling as though he still needs to earn the respect of his men and his peers. Unfortunately, in many other aspects he doesn’t, which results in the overall film being solidly mediocre.
Early in the film there are various scenes depicting the difficult departure of Captain Nelson’s team with their families. It’s clear that this is intended to be the emotional anchor of the film as we remember, in the midst of explosions and gunfire, that these men have families at home. Only this connection, which was weakly strung together to begin with, is never maintained and is barely revisited throughout the film. When Nelson does finally meet with General Dostum in Afghanistan, the dialogue between them wreaks of Hollywood editors imagining how it might have gone. A couple of the actions scenes share this weakness as brave charges into battle turn into average CG-laced eye candy. None of these elements are helping Hemsworth in his journey to harden his character into the battle-proven captain we need to believe he is by the end of the film.
Inherent with any war movie is a deserving discussion of just war, revenge, violence as a means of answering evil, and a host of other related issues. Interestingly, 12 Strong touches less on those issues (if at all) than it does the nature of leadership and cooperation. In other words, this isn’t a movie to accompany lofty conversations of Christians engaging in or supporting war. Rather, it focuses on cooperation between people who might otherwise be enemies, and highlights the benefits of quality leadership. As such, the conversations most beneficial to Christians in regards to this movie will be more about the value of leadership than about the intricacies of just war theory or taking a life as a soldier.
There are some beneficial conversations this film can lead us into. For instance, the value of experience in our leaders. As Paul is describing to Timothy the qualifications of an elder within the church, there are a number of items that point to the experience of the man; married, well-mannered and/or believing children, not a new convert (1 Tim. 3). There are certain character traits the Lord values in the shepherds of his flock that are almost exclusively gained by experience.
We could also be convicted of the sacrifices demanded by a higher calling. Suppose instead of heading into battle, we felt called to head into the mission-field. Suppose this decision meant the temporary separation, or joined hardships, with our families. Is that a sacrifice worth making? Does it boil down to a personal cost-benefit, or does the calling on our hearts necessitate our action? These are questions we can see the soldiers of 12 Strong dealing with in the beginning of the film.
While I wouldn’t recommend a rush to the theater to catch this film on the big screen before it’s gone, there is enough value in it to merit a rental and a short bit of contemplation on the big decisions in our lives, and those in whom we trust to lead us.
