As is my wont, I’ll be brief. Or, a conversation starter. This post is a review of a movie I watched last night and again this morning. I liked it that much! However, it’s been widely criticized. Fair enough.
Warhorse One
is the movie (2023). It’s an action war film, about consequences of the withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. Most of the criticism is about the war and action aspects. Additionally, some of the technical stuff. Moreover, the complaint is it’s not realistic. Okay, maybe so; but I loved it all the same. Damnit, it moved me.
For starters, The Setting reminded me of my favorite place on earth – The Wild Basin of Rocky Mountain Park. And so? I could relate. I could imagine myself there! The views, the mountains, the forest and rocks, the sky and light, the river. The ambient sounds that those elements naturally make. Add to that a mournful, dramatic musical soundtrack of strings, drums, and piano. Sometimes with Middle Eastern chants, too. Perfect!
The movie appeared to be shot with a Go-Pro camera and an iPhone. Along with aerial drone wide outs. Definitely home-made. (Okay critics, you make a movie.) The writer and director, Johnny Strong, (Real name?) starred in the film and did most of the work himself. Editing, soundtrack, stunts, etc..
The Story
or plot, is an old one. It’s a rescue of a child, and revenge for her, in a hostile world. Similar to True Grit, in that the tough, lonesome hero, make that “superhero”, finds redemption in doing his job as MAN. It is also an “Against all odds” story. One of my favorites.
Characterization.
The child is a five-year old American girl left orphaned and alone, by the murder of her family when trying to flee Afghanistan. Foreign Jihadists (not Taliban or insurgents) are “the bad guys”. There is much nuanced morality despite also some trite, cringe dialogue. Zoe (Athena Durner) the child-role is played and acted superbly.
Zoe and SEAL chief, Richard Mirko (Johnny Strong) work out the meaning of life via their conversations whilst escaping great peril and loss of life. It’s fantastic! I won’t spoil it for you.
The Big Idea
is, no doubt, Johnny Strong’s. And that is – the meaning of life. What fun! To write and direct, and make a movie of your very own fantasy. Moreover, to get it to screen and watched.
In Conclusion
if, like me, you like slow burn, tense, gritty hero stories (There is no romance, smoking or drinking, swearing.) – give this a go. However, it is long, two+ hours. Also, I recommend watching with captions. The dialogue is often subdued. That said, it moved me. I’ll give it five stars.