Kandahar is a 2023 action thriller film directed by Ric Roman Waugh and starring Gerard Butler as Tom Harris, an undercover CIA operative who must escape from Afghanistan with his translator Kahil (Ali Fazal) after his identity and mission are exposed by an intelligence leak. The film is based on the experiences of former military intelligence officer Mitchell LaFortune, who was deployed to Afghanistan in 2013 during the Snowden leaks.
The film boasts impressive action sequences and a realistic portrayal of the war-torn country, thanks to the fact that it was shot entirely in Saudi Arabia, making it the second American movie to do so. The cinematography by MacGregor captures the harsh beauty and danger of the desert landscape, while the music by David Buckley adds to the tension and suspense. The film also explores the themes of loyalty, friendship, and survival in a hostile environment.
However, the film suffers from a lack of originality and depth in its plot and characters. The story is predictable and clichéd, with many tropes and stereotypes that have been seen before in countless other movies about covert operations and special forces.
Kandahar is a film that wants to have its geopolitics taken seriously, but ends up being a dull and generic action flick. It might appeal to hardcore fans of Gerard Butler or the genre, but for others it is hardly worth watching.
The film boasts impressive action sequences and a realistic portrayal of the war-torn country, thanks to the fact that it was shot entirely in Saudi Arabia, making it the second American movie to do so. The cinematography by MacGregor captures the harsh beauty and danger of the desert landscape, while the music by David Buckley adds to the tension and suspense. The film also explores the themes of loyalty, friendship, and survival in a hostile environment.
However, the film suffers from a lack of originality and depth in its plot and characters. The story is predictable and clichéd, with many tropes and stereotypes that have been seen before in countless other movies about covert operations and special forces.
Kandahar is a film that wants to have its geopolitics taken seriously, but ends up being a dull and generic action flick. It might appeal to hardcore fans of Gerard Butler or the genre, but for others it is hardly worth watching.