Lone Survivor, a 2013 war drama directed by Peter Berg, is being hailed as the best war film since Saving Private Ryan and Black Hawk Down. The film, which holds an 87% audience approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes from over 100,000 reviews, is now streaming on Netflix.
Based on a Harrowing True Story
The film is based on the 2007 non-fiction book of the same name by former United States Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell and thriller author Patrick Robinson. It dramatizes Operation Red Wings, a 2005 counter-insurgency mission in Afghanistan during which a four-man SEAL reconnaissance team was deployed to locate Taliban commander Ahmad Shah. Luttrell and other Navy SEAL veterans served as technical advisers, and various branches of the US Armed Forces assisted during filming.
Cast and Critical Acclaim
Mark Wahlberg stars as Marcus Luttrell, with supporting performances from Taylor Kitsch, Emile Hirsch, Ben Foster, and Eric Bana. The film earned two Oscar nominations at the 86th Academy Awards for Best Sound Editing and Best Sound Mixing. It grossed $154.8 million worldwide against a $40 million production budget.
Critics have drawn comparisons to iconic war films. One reviewer wrote, "Lone Survivor is an amazing war film that explores the idea of brotherhood and sacrifice in some of the best ways we've ever seen." Another said, "The most harrowing combat film since Saving Private Ryan." A third noted, "Not since Mark Bowden's Black Hawk Down has there been such a vivid account of a mission gone wrong."
Audience Reactions
Viewers have been equally moved. One cinema-goer said, "Unbelievable. Movie rips your heart out." Another added, "It's not just a war movie, it's a raw, emotional tribute to the bravery, sacrifice, and brotherhood of those who serve. Gripping, heartbreaking, and unforgettable." An IMDB critic called it "Easily the best War Movie since Saving Private Ryan, only an actual story."
Lone Survivor is available for streaming on Netflix now.
