With the release of war movie “Zero Dark Thirty” in the forefront of viewer’s minds, the entrance of “Lone Survivor” into the box office was very well received, and the casting of Mark Wahlberg as a lead definitely helped.
The film is based on a true story of four Navy SEAL’s on a mission to take out one of the more dangerous al-Qaeda operatives. However, their position is compromised, and in losing contact with their base, they are forced into impossible situations that they must face alone.
Of course, the film owes much of its success to the New York Times’ bestselling story Lone Survivor: the Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10, off of which it is based.
As far as filmmaking goes, it was impossible to imagine the movie wouldn’t create any sort of controversy in its accuracy, let alone how it would affect friends and family of the men who died. However, filmmakers took their time in accurately representing every aspect of the men and their distinct, individual personalities. In the New York Times, John Ismay, a friend of Erik Kristensen (played by Eric Bana) wrote an article on his reaction to “Lone Survivor.”
“I dreaded the idea of seeing my old roommate’s death depicted on screen… But when I saw a pair of Birkenstocks walking away from the camera on the big screen, I knew someone had taken the time to get the details right,” Ismay said. “Someone really cared about this story.”
Ismay met with Bana to learn what it took to prepare to play Kristensen, and why, of all things, Birkenstocks were important enough to make it into the film.
Of course, Ismay isn’t the only person affected by this story, nor will he be the last. The film has already made over $81 million at the box office and has been nominated for two Academy Awards.
The target audience for the film is simple: anyone with a heart. The film doesn’t lack in the gore department, and squeamish viewers should keep that in mind, but in terms of a well-rounded and heart-wrenching story, the movie absolutely aces it.
The casting is also key in the film, with Wahlberg playing the lead Marcus Luttrell along with outstanding performances by Taylor Kitsch as Michael P. Murphy, Emile Hirsch as Danny Dietz, Ben Foster as Matthew Axelson and Bana as Kristensen.
Director Peter Berg took the time to create a film true to the lives of these men to the very last detail. The part that may be the most crucial is that the story never deters from the lives the men are living in Afghanistan. Rather than making the film another Hollywood war story, Berg remains true to the men, never taking a moment of the film away from their situation.
The four men depicted in the film’s major plot line consistently refer to each other as “brothers.” They’re not only willing to die for their country, but for each other.
Photo One: http://www.etonline.com/photo/2013/08/24030461/mark_wahlberg_640.jpg
Photo Two: http://sportsblogs.star-telegram.com/.a/6a00e54f7fc4c58833019b0395972a970c-pi
Photo Three: http://sofrep.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/lone-survivor-casting-updates-and-pictures3.jpg
Photo Four: http://b-i.forbesimg.com/scottmendelson/files/2014/01/lone04-291×300.jpg
Photo Five: http://www.tactical-life.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Lone-Survivor.jpg
Sources: