Navy SEAL Reviews Guy Ritchie’s ‘Covenant’: An Edgy Tale of US Occupation Mistakes, Marred by Military Faux Pas

I’m a big fan of Guy Ritchie films which is why it made me cringe like a sniper in Ramadi with no comms watching one basic military custom and SOP after another shoveled into a burning latrine pit. Great storytelling but a huge miss high and right when it comes to the military-technical aspects of the movie.

I’ll get to the latrine slide in a minute, but first, a hat tip to the incredible movies Guy has made in the past.

1. Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998): Ritchie’s directorial debut, this British crime comedy tells the tale of four friends caught up in a high-stakes poker game with dangerous consequences.
2. Snatch (2000): An intertwined narrative of underground boxing and diamond theft, featuring a stellar ensemble cast including Brad Pitt and Jason Statham.
3. RocknRolla (2008): A London-based crime thriller involving a real estate scam, lost painting, and Russian mobsters.
4. Sherlock Holmes (2009) & Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011): Ritchie’s high-energy, visually inventive take on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s detective, starring Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law.
5. The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (2015): A Cold War spy thriller based on the 1960s television series showcasing Ritchie’s knack for stylish action and witty dialogue.
6. Aladdin (2019): Ritchie’s live-action version of Disney’s animated classic brings a new flavor to a beloved story.
7. The Gentlemen (2020): A return to his London crime roots, this film features a weed empire, a private investigator, and Ritchie’s signature plot twists.
8. Wrath of Man (2021): Ritchie reunites with Jason Statham in this revenge-based action thriller, a remake of the 2004 French film “Le Convoyeur.”

Navy SEAL Guy Ritchie’s ‘Covenant’ Review: An Edgy Tale of US Occupation Mistakes, Marred by Military Faux Pas

It’s a wild, PTSD-filled ride through the dust and desperation of the failed US occupation in Afghanistan, folks. Guy Ritchie’s “Covenant,” tells a tale that’ll make your heart bleed and your teeth grind, all wrapped up in the sheer audacity of Hollywood storytelling.

With a keen eye for the tragic reality of interpreters left in the lurch, Ritchie’s script nails the bitter betrayal. He paints a stark portrait of these brave souls, who were promised the American dream only to be served the Taliban nightmare after the hasty US pullout.

The story of Ahmed, the interpreter, with a Taliban hatchet to grind, could have been a straight dive into a pool of pity, yet it’s presented with the dignity of a damaged man that cares deeply for his family.

Yet, in the midst of this hard-hitting narrative, “Covenant” somehow manages to trip over its own bootlaces in a comedy of military errors. Apparently, in Ritchie’s world, enlisted men are bandying about with “sir” like it’s a term of endearment, not a salute reserved for officers. And C130 gunships doing a midday waltz in the sky? I’ve seen less sunlight in a Vegas casino at 3 AM.

Anyone that’s crapped MREs in a combat zone knows that Puff the Magic Dragon does not fly in the daytime at low altitudes. It’s Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to fly at night.

How copy, over?

(Hollywood garble crackling over the radio)

The ending scene, which was an incredible display of shock and awe from the gunship, was marred by the daytime strafing run at low altitude (Puff rains murder at 20,000 feet not 1,500 feet AGL).

Why not have this scene happen as the sun goes down to avoid a big blunder of believability?

And oh, the dragging scene! I can’t help but feel a bit of déjà vu as Ahmed hauls Sergeant John Kinley back to Bagram air base. It’s a hair-raising echo of Marcus Luttrell’s “Lone Survivor,” which I guess in this day and age is called inspiration, not imitation.

Jake Gyllenhaal does a convincing job playing the part of US Army Sergeant John Kinley, and every man deserves a woman like that (you’ll see).

Dar Salim playing Ahmed is an equally convincing and complicated character that comes across in a powerful way.

So, should you watch “Covenant”? Hell yes! Just take it with a grain of salt or a swig of good whiskey because it’s as full of military missteps and smells a bit, at times, like the jalapeno cheese that comes in MREs. But if you can look past the boot camp blunders, you’ll find a compelling tale of promises broken and heroes forgotten. And that, my friends, is a story worth telling.

Author’s Note: If you like action, check out our thriller series. 

Haunted by the death of his best friend and hunted by the FBI for war crimes he didn’t commit, Finn lands on an island paradise that turns into his own personal hell in this gripping follow-up to Steel Fear and Cold Fear—from the New York Times bestselling writing team Webb & Mann. Buy it now.