Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant

Directed by Guy Ritchie, Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant follows a soldier (Jake Gyllenhaal’s John Kinley) as he and his interpreter (Dar Salim’s Ahmed) find themselves trapped behind enemy lines in Afghanistan. Filmmaker Ritchie, armed with a script written alongside Ivan Atkinson and Marn Davies, delivers a stirring action picture that grows more and more absorbing as it unfolds, and there’s little doubt, certainly, that the surprising narrative plays a key role in ultimately cementing the movie’s success – as the movie, despite its decidedly familiar setup, eventually does take some twists and turns that are virtually impossible to anticipate. It’s clear, too, that Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant benefits substantially from the stellar, engrossing efforts of its two leads (as well as the irresistible chemistry between Gyllenhaal and Salim’s respective characters), while the increasingly compelling atmosphere paves the way for a riveting, gripping third act that’s nothing short of mesmerizing – with the completely satisfying conclusion confirming the film’s place as a seriously above-average actioner and one of Ritchie’s very best endeavors.

**** out of ****