Cinematic portrayals of war have a long history of resonating deeply with veterans, active-duty military personnel, and anyone captivated by the harrowing realities of battle. Warfare, the latest addition to this storied genre, is no exception.
Co-directed and written by Navy veteran Ray Mendoza along with Alex Garland who directed “Civil War,” this film is a masterclass in authentic storytelling and technical precision. It captures the chaos of combat but also offers an unromantic perspective of battle from those who lived it.
What is Warfare About?
At its core, Warfare chronicles a brief moment in the lives of a tight-knit SEAL platoon navigating the boredom, brutality, and unpredictability of combat during the Battle of Ramadi in 2006. Unlike other war movies that invest considerable time and energy in character development, Warfare cuts to the chase and gives the audience an unvarnished view into the operational lives of those who were boots on the ground.
I don’t think this movie was created to tell a story that sways the audience towards a specific ideal. There aren’t multiple stories or subplots or other creative devices inserted into the film to make it a cinematic masterpiece.
Instead, Warfare is gritty, fast-paced, and real. That said, it does achieve cinematic excellence, but not because of beautiful camera shots and moving musical scores. It hits its target using a simple and raw formula. It delivers a factual movie. It is almost as if the creators are telling the audience, “This is what happened,” and they don’t care what you think about it because the story isn’t politicized or even humanized.
The film offers a very professional perspective of special ops in Iraq. Much like the men who executed these missions during the Global War on Terrorism, the viewer is placed on the battlefield as decisions are made and actions are taken. There is no Hollywood created drama.
The tension of the events of the battle are enough to carry the film, but none of what happened is romanticized or filmed through Hollywood goggles. The personal and technical input of the SEALs who fought the battle is clearly present. It is a very much a this-is-what-happened kind of film. Just the facts, and those facts, are hardcore and honest.
How Does the Story Unfold?
Warfare grips you from the first moment that the SEALs start their mission. The film centers on a key mission gone wrong, and as chaos unfolds, the platoon is tested in ways they could never prepare for. However, despite unique circumstances, the SEALs, as expected, find a way.
The film makes no deliberate effort to slow down and invest in building the relationships between the characters. Films like Saving Private Ryan or even Black Hawk Down did this effectively, but those are different kinds of war films that not only tell the story of what happened, whether fictional or real, but tell the stories of the characters in the films.
In Warfare, there is no character development. The film starts en media res. There aren’t heartfelt personal interactions and there is certainly not a lot of back story like in Steven Spielberg’s D-Day classic. The characters do not share anecdotes about pre-war life and there aren’t quiet moments in the film where the relationships between the men are highlighted. That’s intentional. The film’s focus is on what happened and how the teams reacted in order to evacuate their wounded and get everyone back to their base.
For those seeking a neatly packaged story that leaves viewers satisfied, look elsewhere if you want entertainment. However, if you’re looking for a warfighter’s perspective of what it was like to fight in Iraq, especially in Ramadi, most will agree, Warfare effectively captures the American odyssey in Iraq without blinking.
Warfare doesn’t have to rely on slick writing, camera shots and music to give the audience a fantastic war drama. The reality of the events, which were recounted for the movie from those who lived it and survived, gives the audience all that and more.
A Cinematic Achievement
Simply put, Warfare is a cinematic triumph. From its funny opening scene which any military veteran will find familiar, to the gripping action sequences, the film sets a new standard for war dramas. It is stripped of romantic notions and creative bias. It is a movie that sticks to facts and cuts out the fluff. What makes it truly special is its ability to go beyond traditional depictions of glory and conflict.
Does the film glorify aspects of war? Not one bit. The focus of Warfare isn’t on glamorizing combat but, rather, on highlighting the courage and professionalism of the special ops community. It follows them as they problem solve the obstacles that continue to arise during their mission gone wrong. The movie shows the SEALs courage and professionalism.
Why Watch Warfare?
If you’re a veteran, or if you wear a military uniform, Warfare is a must-watch. It’s more than a film; it’s almost like a live-action report of what happened in Ramadi 19 years ago. It isn’t some bang-bang action movie either. Its enduring impact lies in its respect and reverence for both the sacrifices made and the individual acts of members of the SEAL team.
No character or narrator in Warfare tells you how to feel about the battle or explains the importance of what happened. The audience is shown what happened and left to decide for itself.
How to Watch Warfare
The movie was released earlier this year in theaters, but you can now watch it on streaming platforms. It is certainly worth the money whether you choose to buy it or rent it.
Remember, there is no innuendo and no overarching messaging in Warfare. As you watch, much like the film, The Outpost, you are sucked into the events and you find yourself hoping these guys get out alive.
In the end, you’re left with just the facts, and we don’t know if what the SEAL team did on the ground led to any meaningful strategic military gains, but that is the Iraq War in nutshell. History has yet to prove if that conflict will have a lasting impact on humanity, but one thing is certain, the professionalism and bravery of the men and women who served there should be shared. Movies like this tell hard stories and that is something we need more of.
This blog post was written by Steve Alvarez a retired U.S. Army officer and Iraq war veteran. He is the author of Selling War: A Critical Look at the Military’s PR Machine published by Potomac Books, an imprint of the University of Nebraska Press.