The Covenant (2023)

Walsh calls it Ritchie’s best film in years, finding the serious story effective despite occasional excess in tone. She praises Dar Salim and Jake Gyllenhaal’s performances and the cinematic portrayal of their bond.

Gleiberman calls the film a lacerating, moving, superbly crafted war drama. He praises Dar Salim’s nuanced performance and the gripping, unsentimental staging of the men’s struggle to survive.

Bray finds the film a handsome, serious war drama and praises Ritchie’s shift into a more grounded style. She singles out the convincing partnership between Jake Gyllenhaal and Dar Salim, especially the opportunity it gives Salim to shine.

The review finds the film an intense, effective war drama, though it notes limitations in its portrayal of Afghans and the broader conflict. It singles out Jake Gyllenhaal and Dar Salim’s performances and the riveting action for praise.

Rooney finds the film a solid, satisfying war thriller and a welcome change of pace for Guy Ritchie. He praises its focus on the resilient humanity and partnership of the two leads rather than glorifying combat.

The standfirst presents the film as a muscular tribute to Afghan interpreters left behind by US forces. The review’s full verdict and specific praise are unavailable in the accessible page text.

The page identifies the article as a review, but its text is inaccessible. The critic’s verdict and any specific praise or complaint cannot be verified.

Ebiri finds the film topical, suspenseful, and moving for much of its running time, but says the final act is a letdown. He praises the dreamy, wordless survival sequences and Gyllenhaal’s haunted performance.

Elfadl finds the film shallow, dramatically limp, and unwilling to engage with the war’s complexity. He singles out Dar Salim’s quietly commanding performance as the one element that gives viewers something to hold onto.

Nussen argues that the film ultimately endorses American exceptionalism and never-ending warfare. He praises the tense, kinetic action sequences, but criticizes the thin characterizations and lack of meaningful scrutiny of the war.

Hammond calls it an exciting, gripping, and moving war film, and praises it as Guy Ritchie’s best. He singles out Jake Gyllenhaal and Dar Salim for compelling performances, especially their characters’ emotional bond.

The critic finds The Covenant a surprisingly successful, more earnest turn for Guy Ritchie, and a promising move toward serious filmmaking. She praises the clearly staged, forceful action but faults the film for giving Afghan characters less humanity and emotional depth than its American soldiers.

The headline presents the film as an engaging war thriller centered on bonds and brotherhood. The page content is blocked, so no further critical praise or complaint is available.

Hutchinson finds the film’s promising themes and performances overwhelmed by formulaic action and an underwritten story. He praises Dar Salim’s dynamic performance, while faulting the film for sidelining Ahmed and centering John’s redemption instead.

Hassenger finds the film a familiar, middle-of-the-road war drama that misuses Ritchie’s talents. He praises the sharper frustration of Gyllenhaal’s scenes confronting U.S. bureaucracy, but criticizes the noisy visual clichés in battle scenes.

The critic finds the film shallow despite its effective action, arguing that its focus on male camaraderie avoids examining the war. He praises Dar Salim for giving Ahmed humanity and outshining his co-star.