Between “Act of Valor” and my equally hypercritical review of George Lucas’s hokey Tuskegee Airmen tribute, “Red Tails,” people might be getting the idea that I have strong feelings against the military.
Let’s get this out of the way now: I have nothing but respect for our armed forces. They are a collection of men and women braver and stronger than I will ever be, and what they do for our country is immeasurable.
What I don’t respect are bad movies, and unfortunately, that is exactly what “Act of Valor” is.
The film follows a band of Navy SEALs as they attempt to rescue a kidnapped CIA agent, played by Roselyn Sanchez, in the Philippines. As their mission progresses, the elite team discovers that the kidnapping is a part of a far bigger and deadlier scheme orchestrated by a terrorist named Abu Shabal (Jason Cottle). It’s up to the brave heroes to chase Shabal across the globe and stop him before millions of innocent American lives are lost.
The commercials for “Act of Valor” note that the film’s story is inspired by true events, but its real inspiration appears to be the popular “Call of Duty” video game series. Even the title sounds reminiscent of the bestselling franchise.
Most of the action scenes are shot from a first-person perspective behind a soldier’s gun, and before each mission, the audience is transported to the location via a quick zoom into a point on a digitalized map screen.
The only thing missing is the word “loading” at the bottom of the screen, and many of the action scenes could be confused for a “Modern Warfare 2” screenshot.
While the promise of video game-esque thrills and relentless action seems at least entertaining, “Act of Valor” isn’t made well enough to come through. First-time directors and former stuntmen Mike McCoy and Scott Waugh chop and edit the action sequences to a nearly incomprehensible level. Most of the time, the viewer can only tell if someone has been shot by the grim sound of a squishy headshot.
Adding to the confusion is the movie’s lighting, or lack thereof. One parachuting scene, in particular, could have been exciting, but since it’s filmed in the black of night, it’s hard to tell if we’re watching a formation of Navy SEALS or a flock of seagulls. It’s not a good sign when the audience wants the film to move on due to reasons of eyestrain.
“Act of Valor’s” other main gimmick is the use of actual Navy SEALs in the starring roles. The SEALs, who go unbilled, obviously are not on board for their acting skills, which are wooden at best.
However, even Meryl Streep would struggle to bring these cliché and clumsy characters to life. The characters are lazily introduced with on-screen text boxes, and the script switches between dull war movie clichés and wordy exposition that leaves the audience more confused than enlightened.
Not that the audience is all that invested in the characters, who after their introductions have a total of about three non-mission related lines. The only two characters given any semblance of personality are made up of clichés that were tedious back when John Wayne was making movies. For instance, a lieutenant keeps endlessly talking about his expecting wife in a manner that screams ‘I will inevitably die for dramatic effect.’
What the presence of the SEALs could have brought to “Act of Valor” was an air of reality to the project. The audience, however, only gets fleeting glimpses of the reality and intricate detail of the SEALs’ work. The use of a second ‘catcher’ position on a sniping mission or a tan flap of fabric on a camera in order to hide the lens’s glare are nifty details.
These tiny elements are the most interesting parts of “Act of Valor,” but when a glorified lens cap is the best aspect of a movie, I don’t think it merits a recommendation.
Much like the Tuskegee Airmen from “Red Tails,” the Navy SEALs deserve a better tribute than an extended “Call of Duty” cutscene.
mike_50 • Mar 19, 2012 at 9:03 pm
I agree with the comments above. I AM NOT a SEAL, but served during the current conflicts after 9/11. You have no idea what goes on/sacrifices/time away from family/fact that you dont know if you are coming home etc. I dont normally go to movies and I wait for netflix. I went and saw this movie because it was based on REAL PEOPLE. Not some hollywood actor who makes millions of dollars. (Most of the time they put out a product that is in fantasy-land & stinks in my opinion).
Marquette2012 • Mar 5, 2012 at 2:10 am
Because the previous to comments quite adequately cover the broad array of feelings I have toward this article in great specificity, I will be brief.
I respect your “opinion” about the film, for the fact that it is your opinion and can, in no way, be misconstrued as an authoritative critique by a qualified source.
Frankly, I think you flat-out missed the point of the film. Or, rather, you keyed in perfectly on the point of the film, but failed to recognize every manifestation of “the point” presented. Ironically, nearly everything you point to as “unrealistic” is, in fact, a very real part of the Special Operations community.
I understand that you are a film critic, so when you comment that the acting wasn’t very good, or you have an issue with the lighting in a particular scene, you express that. But what really alarms me is the lack of critical thought in your writing. The most obvious example, in my honest opinion, and one that has been previously cited, is the commentary on the night-time HALO jump.
I can understand that, from a film critic’s viewpoint, there is incredible potential in any scene that involves someone jumping from 35000ft. However, in critiquing that scene (and being someone who is criticizing the realism of the film) how could you not stop and think about the situation of that jump? I would wager 10 seconds of critical thought would have led you to realize that what you wrote was completely foolish.
You are a film critic. Think critically.
UpNorth • Mar 1, 2012 at 11:53 pm
I have to tell you that you really have no idea what you actually saw. This movie is the most accurate portrayal of Naval Special Warfare ever put on film.
When you write:
“What the presence of the SEALs could have brought to “Act of Valor” was an air of reality to the project… The use of a second ‘catcher’ position on a sniping mission…”
You really highlight the fact that you have no idea what reality is in relation to war fighting as that is one of five Hollywood BS things in the movie. The others are: three grenades that are more like gas bombs and the fact that the guys would have been pre-breathing O2 for a long period of time prior to jumping.
Those are real miniguns firing live ammunition, a real nuke sub, real jumpers, ect.
Combat is not like “The Matrix”, it looks exactly like it does in the movie. Just because you can’t follow it, does not mean it is not accurate, it means that you are a writer not a warrior.
If you were to watch the movie another 30 times, you might actually be able to follow it. You can fast forward to those scenes.
A real review. Acting, not so good. Story, more accurate that you want to believe. Heroism, accurate. Action, intense and real, hard to follow if you have not been there.
Go enjoy this movie from whatever angle you suits you. Patriotism, awesome action flick, salute to those who have given us our freedom. It is absolutely inspiring.
Marquette2011 • Mar 1, 2012 at 8:17 pm
While I respect your opinion on this movie, I completely disagree and here is why:
First and foremost, you seemed to have taken the side of every other elitist critic out there. A movie is supposed to take you away from your every day life and submerge you into a place you cant be and make you forget what is troubling you or what is going on. Maybe it takes you to a world you will never experience, or really pull at your heart strings because it is portraying every aspect of your life in a short 2 hour span. This total submersion it was makes a great movie and makes you sit at the end of your chair wondering what is coming next or how they are going to solve the problem or who is getting the chick at the end of the day.
-So, did Act of Valor complete that objective? Yes, I think it did, or at least it did for those who are into and have any kind of interest/knowledge of current global events or the military as a whole.
Second, you said “The commercials for “Act of Valor” note that the film’s story is inspired by true events, but its real inspiration appears to be the popular “Call of Duty” video game series. Even the title sounds reminiscent of the bestselling franchise.” The only area you were really correct with this statement was the whole “first person shooter” idea, which has never been done before. So, points for originality. They used live rounds, real tactics and real seals doing relevant missions to today’s threats, unlike these video games that all have to do with the infiltration of a terrorist cell planting a ‘dirty bomb’ or combating chemical threats from rogue Russian cells. The only thing not real was they had to slow down how fast they cleared the rooms since they do it faster than the director wanted. Other than that the stuff they did could have been a mission they pulled off yesterday without us knowing. No mission impossible stuff which is portrayed in many of today’s video games, however realistic and badass they might be.
Your lack of knowledge about the Special Forces community might lead you to your comment about the lighting of the movie. Special Forces teams and Operators use a wide array of infiltration tactics when faced with an enemy deeply embedded in hostile territory. One of these tactics is called a HALO jump which stands for High altitude, low opening. It is done by flying an airplane over friendly skies at a very high altitude, usually around 25,000 to 35,000 feet, and with the use of gravity the Operators jump out over friendly skies, cross boarders quickly and silently UNDER THE COVER OF DARKNESS, to sneak up on the enemy. It doesnt do much good to jump out of an airplane (whether it be HALO or not), the sun glistening off your gear and a big ass parachute saying “Hello! We are here!” Therefore to make the movie more realistic, the directors filmed the jump at dusk to make the audience believe they were along on the actual mission. Had it been done your way, anyone with any common sense would have said, “Why would you jump into hostile territory during the day when they can see you?” And your mission is over before they touch the ground. So in the area of making the movie one of the most realistic Special Forces movies made- I would say Objective Complete.
SIDE NOTE: Your comment of “Most of the time, the viewer can only tell if someone has been shot by the grim sound of a squishy head shot” is kind of a, dare I say, stupid one? If someone is shot in the face, I don’t think they are getting back up. When Osama bin Laden was double tapped, I very much doubt he started screaming, “Oh the humanity, I have been shot in the face!” What else would you have liked to have happened when people were getting shot; body parts flying, blood squirting everywhere? This also made it more realistic to the tactics of SEALs and other Special Forces teams who pride themselves on their expert marksmanship even on the move.
““Act of Valor’s” other main gimmick is the use of actual Navy SEALs in the starring roles. The SEALs, who go unbilled, obviously are not on board for their acting skills, which are wooden at best.” Oh, another doozy of a comment. Maybe their acting skills aren’t up to your par, because THEY ARENT ACTORS. Training to become a SEAL specifically last initially 6 months, just to be trained for the SEAL to get the bare tactics down. From there, they go to Jump school, Dive school, sniper school, and many other elite military schools in order of perfecting their skills and ensuring victory on the battlefield. Im sure they would give you their deepest and most heart felt sympathies that in all of that time, they didnt get to meet up with Brad Pitt in acting school. I feel like maybe they had more important things to be doing, like killing Osama.
I feel like you were looking for a deeper more heart felt movie with a plot that rivaled something like “The Notebook,” or maybe you were wanting plot twists left and right so you can come out of the theater, name drop and say you got “Shyamalan-ed.” In fact, the movie was made to give the audience an idea for what SEALs do without us knowing. Relevant real life missions to the threats of the United States. And guess what everyone in the military does when they are away from home; they wish they were at home with their family or their wives who are pregnant or children. Im quite sure they talk about it among their friends too. (I do agree that it was quite obvious he was going to die from the get go) If you were looking for a love plot, or a SEAL to accidentally fall in love with the terrorist’s daughter and then have to kill her dad or some crap like that, you went to the wrong movie.
I am not sure what you and the other critics wanted from this movie. In the opinions of many, it was the TOP GUN of this generation. Not knowing about aspects of the military might make you have these ideas that lighting is more important than keeping the movie as authentic as possible, or that maybe everyone in the military should take a time out and go to acting school in case they make a movie about us. (I think Ill pass on that one, TOP GUN was already made for my community) I had an Uncle that was a SEAL, so that makes me a little bias for the movie as you can tell. Knowing his job and how top notch he and those who fought along side him were only made me want to strive for knowledge on what the Teams do, the tactics involved and what the individuals have to go through to become the most elite fighting force on the face of the Earth. Unfortunately he died in Afghanistan the day after my 21st birthday before he could be my first salute at Commissioning and before he could really answer all the questions I had. (Maybe that would make a movie you want to watch)But to call this movie crap really is really just a naive comment about a world you know little about. If you want to say the lighting was bad or the acting was bad go for it, but what are you expecting from one of the most realistic portrayals of America’s heroes that has ever been created? I say, Mission Accomplished.
Oh and Red Tails sucked… and that even had real actors.