The exact opposite of “13 Hours,” and that’s the way I like it.
“The Outpost” is a modern war movie, which takes place during Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) from 2001 to 2014. You probably haven’t heard about this movie that way you’ve heard of “Full Metal Jacket,” “Saving Private Ryan,” “Flags of Our Fathers,” “American Sniper,” “1917,” or more recently”Da 5 Bloods,” and even I haven’t heard of this yet. But as your film critic, I must recommend you see “The Outpost” for yourself. Just because it isn’t made by a big studio (this one is distributed by Screen Media Films) doesn’t mean it’s not entertaining.
In fact, it’s both gritty and dangerous on almost all accounts. Something for people who love war movies, and have relatives who fight or fought for our country. Although, I wish you took my advice on “The Last Full Measure” from January.
The main soldiers in the story would include the stern Sergeant Clint Romesha (Scott Eastwood), Justin T. Gallegos (Jason Scipio from “Bad Boys for Life”), the would-be pilot Michael Scusa (Scott Alda Coffey), the stressed Zorias Yunger (Alfie Stewart), the goofball Staff Sgt Ty Carter (Caleb Landry Jones), and their team leader Josh Kirk (Jack Kesy from “Deadpool 2”). Their mission in Kamdesh, Afghanistan is to separate the Taliban from the locals.
Their translator and assistant is the local Malek (Petar Petrov), their deceased base commander was Benjamin Keating (Orlando Bloom), and their current commander is Robert Yllescas (Milo Gibson, son of Mel Gibson).
Their outpost (Combat Outpost Keaton) is just as dangerous as out in the field, as they fight bullets with bullets, and they’re closing it soon. But that’s only half their worries, since hundreds of Taliban enemy insurgents arrive to raise some Hell on our boys.
The minute the movie began, I was gazing at its cinematography by Lorenzo Senatore (“Megan Leavey”). The scenes look beautifully photographed, and crystal clear. And they’re also paced, based on the situations and discussions that emerge. They can be fast, quick, or smooth, and the shootings and fights match their complexities. I assure you: it’s not like a video game, It represents how situations can happen so fast, which happens to be the main Taliban battle.
Inside the HD, you’re able to see some excellent work from the cast. Eastwood delivers a performance so stellar and distinctive, that you can already tell he’s living up to his father Clint’s expectations. He has the disposition, attitude, and dialogue to keep him going. And Bloom does a fantastic job at using a Southern American accent as the base commander, and even for a short while, provides some motivation to the character.
A few dull moments here and there, but the nonstop action and strong emotions manage to overpower my cynicisms, and makes “The Outpost” riveting. Director Rod Lurie (“The Contender”) offers the kind of balance between conversations and war that I looked for and missed in Michael Bay’s “13 Hours.” And you’re able to find the humor and drama placed inside the outpost without them overlapping one another.
It doesn’t need any obligatory war movie trainings or the bar social. It needs soldiers who may or may not have killed their enemies before, and who do their best to adapt to their war zone. They’re scared, but they still must survive the attacks.
Give this movie a shot.
⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
Available on Amazon Prime
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