“The Covenant,” directed by Guy Ritchie, finds Army Sergeant John Kinley (played by Jake Gyllenhaal) and Afghan Interpreter Ahmed (played by Dar Salim) caught in a race against time after being ambushed by Taliban forces in the rough terrain of Afghanistan's hills.

Although I haven't been a huge fan of Guy Ritchie's recent films, this one feels very different from his other works. It's a war drama/thriller with a straightforward plot, refreshingly absent of an elaborate ruse de guerre. The movie's first two-thirds are incredibly effective, thanks to the gripping action sequences, especially the one at the mine. Jake Gyllenhaal and Dar Salim both deliver excellent performances in the lead roles, and the film smartly focuses on developing these characters and their bond. It's all gripping, especially when Ahmed carries John Kinley across the Afghan mountains and out of the Taliban-controlled territory.

The final third of the film loses some of this thrill, however. The shift to Kinley's rescue of Ahmed and his family is much less interesting or exciting. In several scenes, the "drama" consists of Gyllenhaal screaming into a phone, attempting to get Ahmed's family's visas. The point is clearly to emphasize how the US, by and large, has left many of these Afghan interpreters out to dry. As honorable as the intent is, these scenes don't make for compelling drama. Although the final action sequence injects some tension back into the film, the literal deus ex machina finale was a massive letdown. Those final act misgivings aside, this was an enjoyable film. It's a well-made, well-shot, potent action film that generally delivers on its promise.

— 3/ 5 ⭐