On Monday, February 10, 2014
Lone Survivor
Based on The New York Times bestselling true story of heroism, courage and survival, Lone Survivor tells the incredible tale of four Navy SEALs on a covert mission to neutralize a high-level al-Qaeda operative who are ambushed by the enemy in the mountains of Afghanistan. Faced with an impossible m… More
Initial release: December 25, 2013 (USA)
Director: Peter Berg
Running time: 121 minutes
Adapted from: Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10
Awards: BFCA Critics' Choice Award for Best Action Movie, more
Lone Survivor is a 2013 American war film written and directed by Peter Berg, and starring Mark Wahlberg, Taylor Kitsch, Emile Hirsch, Ben Foster and Eric Bana. It is based on the 2007 nonfiction book of the same name by Marcus Luttrell and Patrick Robinson. Set during the War in Afghanistan, the film dramatizes the failed United States Navy SEALs mission Operation Red Wings, in which a four-man SEAL reconnaissance and surveillance team was tasked to track Taliban leader Ahmad Shah.
Development of the film began in 2007 after Berg first learned of the book while filming Hancock. He arranged several meetings with Luttrell to discuss adapting the book to film. Universal Pictures secured the film rights in August 2007, after bidding against other major film studios. In re-enacting the events of Operation Red Wings, Berg drew much of his screenplay from Luttrell's eyewitness accounts in the book, as well as autopsy and incident reports related to the mission. After directing Battleship for Universal in 2012, Berg returned to work on Lone Survivor. Principal photography began in October 2012, and concluded in November after 42 days; filming took place on location in New Mexico, using digital cinematography. Luttrell and several other Navy SEAL veterans acted as technical advisors, while multiple branches of the United States Armed Forces aided the film's production. In addition, the main actors had three weeks of military training beforehand to prepare for the physical demands of their roles.
Lone Survivor opened in limited release in the United States on December 25, 2013 before opening across North America on January 10, 2014 to strong financial success and a generally positive critical response. Most critics praised Berg's direction, as well as the acting, story, visuals, and battle sequences. Other critics, however, derided the film for focusing more on its action scenes than on characterization. Lone Survivor has grossed $119.7 million in box-office revenue worldwide – of which $112.6 million is from North America – and received two Academy Award nominations for Best Sound Editing and Best Sound Mixing.
Mark Wahlberg as Marcus Luttrell, the hospital corpsman and sniper of a four-man reconnaissance and surveillance team, SEAL Team 10. Wahlberg was the first actor to sign on as a star during its early stages of development. He chose to portray Luttrell after reading Peter Berg's script. He also chose not to read Luttrell's book Lone Survivor during production to avoid arguments with Berg over events and details that were left out in the book.[8][9] "The problem when adapting a piece of material like that is that you always feel like something is missing,” he explained. “I wanted to come at it from this perspective."[7]:19 Of Wahlberg's portrayal, Luttrell stated, "Wahlberg is a consummate professional, and he’s a great actor. It was a little strange watching somebody trying to play me, but we talked about it and I knew it would turn out great. I was more worried about the other guys because they’re not around to speak for themselves.”[7]:20 Wahlberg has since cited Lone Survivor as his favorite film role as an actor and producer: “This is the best working experience I’ve ever had, under the toughest conditions. I remember early on as an actor, you worked a long, hard day, but you did something you felt was special, and that car ride home you couldn’t stop thinking about it. I had that feeling every day on this movie."[7]:19–20
Taylor Kitsch as Lieutenant Michael P. "Murph" Murphy, on-ground leader and spotter of Operation Red Wings. The film is Kitsch's second feature film collaboration with Berg after Battleship (2012).[7]:20 [10]:41–42 Kitsch said, “Murph’s actions speak louder than anything he’s ever said, and they should. I think he was that type of leader who just loved his guys, and getting the nod to play this guy was something special.”[7]:20 Prior to production of Lone Survivor, Kitsch prepared for the role by performing high-intensity workouts with body armor and long runs with a 40-lb. weighted vest.[7]:23
Emile Hirsch as Danny Dietz, SEAL Team 10's communications specialist and spotter. Hirsch was approached by Berg in 2009, and physically prepared for the role by attending a 90-minute weight program for nearly four months. "I wanted a challenge, so I started to train and work out on my own," he said. "I genuinely didn’t know what was going to happen. Months went by and it was to the point where I was passing on other movies, but I didn’t have this job. I was willing to do anything. I ended up training six days a week, four to five hours a day."[11]
Ben Foster as Matthew "Axe" Axelson, SEAL Team 10's sonar technician and sniper. Wahlberg recommended Foster to Berg, as they had previously collaborated on Contraband (2012).[8] Prior to filming, Foster met with the fallen serviceman's family and friends to understand the person he would be portraying: "It was such a rich opportunity to listen to the Axelsons talk about their son. Their generosity and inclusiveness with me was so touching and open. They love to talk about their boy because they love him; so we, in turn, love him. We can’t bring him back, but what we can do is aim, every day, to do the best that we can to honor him."[7]:21–22
Eric Bana as Lieutenant Commander Erik S. Kristensen, SEAL Team 10's quick reaction force (QRF) commander. Bana had read the book Lone Survivor prior to production, and was willing to appear in the film, regardless of which role was offered to him.[9] Upon being cast as Kristensen, Bana researched the fallen serviceman and his family. On joining the production of Lone Survivor, Bana stated, "There are two factors that make this story special, and they are the reasons why I jumped on board. One is the story itself, and two is who chooses to direct a project like this. I knew how involved [Berg] would be and that he would know how to portray SEAL teammates. That was what I wanted to be a part of. The greatest way to honor these guys is to make a great film and have it stand the test of time."[7]:22 Bana did not physically prepare for the role. "My responsibility was really to understand the role of the mission commander and the relevant information with respect with the chain of command and what it means to go in the QRF and the processes involved," he explained. "It was far more important to be the person that was responsible for that part of the story and understand that completely. There's no purpose in me going out and firing an M4 in this case."[12]
Berg had discussed the project with Walhberg, Kitsch, Hirsch and Foster years earlier.[7]:22 Although the four actors had physically trained for their roles prior to filming, Luttrell organized a three-week training regimen at a bootcamp in New Mexico,[11][13] where the actors were trained by elite military personnel in weapons, as well as military communications and tactics.[7]:23 Military advisor Mark Semos[13] trained Walhberg, Kitsch, Hirsch and Foster in live-firing exercises so that they could feel the impact of firing military rifles. They also practiced "shoot move cover" drills that would improve their muscle memory and enable them to react convincingly as Navy SEALs during filming.[14]
Universal Pictures held an open casting call in Los Angeles, aiding in the filmmakers' search for supporting actors, extras, photo doubles, and stand-ins.[15] Alexander Ludwig, who portrays Machinist's Mate Shane Patton, joined the production in August 2012.[16] Ali Suliman, who previously collaborated with Berg on the 2007 film The Kingdom, was cast as Mohammad Gulab, an Afghan villager.[10]:43 Luttrell also appears in the film in an uncredited role. He first appears as a SEAL teammate who lightheartedly hazes Patton, then during a briefing scene where he is seen shaking his head when the Rules of Engagement are being explained, and later as one of the servicemen who perishes when an MH-47 Chinook is shot down. Luttrell said of the latter scene, "I was on the other side of the mountain when those guys came to help me, so getting to die on the helicopter in the movie was a very powerful moment for me."[17]
The cast is rounded out by Yousuf Azami as Ahmad Shah, a suspected Taliban leader, Sammy Sheik as Taraq, a field commander of the Taliban group,[18] Rich Ting as SO2 James Suh, Dan Bilzerian as SOCS Daniel Healy, Jerry Ferrara as SGT Hasslert, Scott Elrod as Peter Musselman, Rohan Chand as Gulab's son and Corey Large as US Navy SEAL CAPT Kenney. Zarin Mohammad Rahimi, who acted as a technical advisor during production, appears as an elderly shepherd who discovers the four-man SEAL team during the mission. Nicholas Patel and Daniel Arroyo play the goat herders who assist the shepherd.[7]:2
