MOVIE REVIEW – Gerard Butler’s latest film, “Kandahar,” presents a complicated spy narrative set amidst the war scenario in Afghanistan, but does the plot manage to handle its surplus of characters and storylines, or are we given another “B for Butler” feature?

Directed by Ric Roman Waugh, “Kandahar” is his latest film, an ambitious effort to marry the genres of modern action movies and geopolitical dramas. Gerard Butler portrays Tom Harris, a covert CIA operative, who allies with an Afghan interpreter, Mo (Navid Negahban), throughout the film. The storyline unfolds in diverse settings and countries, featuring both desert landscapes and Afghan cities.

This film marks the third collaboration between director Waugh and lead actor Butler, their previous joint ventures being action flicks such as “Angel Has Fallen” and “Greenland”. However, in this latest offering, they’ve strived to construct a richer and more intricate narrative that balances the usual action sequences with global political incidents.

All Roads Lead to Kandahar

CIA agent Tom Harris, aligning himself with an Afghan interpreter to reach Kandahar, finds himself in a complex world. During their journey, they’re pursued by various factions, including an envoy from an Iranian commander, and an ISIS-K agent who collaborates with Afghan Taliban to capture and black-market him. Nevertheless, the film frequently loses focus due to an excess of characters and a complicated backstory.

“Kandahar” is an ambitious, thrilling film, highlighting various international tensions and geopolitical complexities. Gerard Butler’s character, Tom Harris, a covert operative of the CIA, faces an immense challenge when he has to collaborate with an Afghan interpreter, Mo (Navid Negahban). A seemingly simple task – to get to Kandahar – rapidly becomes much more convoluted as the film’s branching narrative unfolds. Both the characters and events are influenced by the local geopolitical environment, contributing substantially to the film’s overall ambiance and tension.

Manhunt in Kandahar with a Plethora of Characters

Throughout Harris and Mo’s journey, they must overcome numerous adversaries, including a delegate from an Iranian commander and an ISIS-K agent working with Afghan Taliban. This complex chase scenario leads to many turns and thrilling scenes, keeping the audience engaged from start to finish. The film, however, is not just known for its realistically depicted and well-executed action sequences. As the story unfolds, the motives and backstories of the characters are unveiled, contributing to character development and enhancing the audience’s emotional connection.

That said, “Kandahar” is vast, and the attempts by director Ric Roman Waugh and screenwriter Mitchell LaFortune to incorporate numerous characters and motivations into the film occasionally detract from the main story. The myriad of characters and backstories makes the narrative complex and at times confusing, as it’s challenging for the audience to track the many details and characters. Nevertheless, “Kandahar” is an intriguing and relatively engaging film that invites the viewer to an adventure in a world of geopolitical conflicts and personal dramas.

“Kandahar” aims to provide an authentic depiction of reality with political and military maneuvering, conflict between ISIS-K and the Taliban, and the enduring trauma of a 20-year war. However, this ambition often clashes with typical Hollywood clichés, and the film’s creators frequently opt for the easy way out when dealing with the complex story. Screenwriter Mitchell LaFortune and director Ric Roman Waugh attempt to balance the geopolitical narrative with action-filled elements in this movie. However, the film occasionally lapses into the standard action movie cliches.

Desert Dash

“Kandahar” strives to raise the bar compared to the typical Butler B-grade films. While the filmmakers try to diverge from reality and build a complex geopolitical narrative, they often find this task challenging and are inclined to resort to the usual Hollywood cliches. However, it is gratifying to see Butler participate in a more intricate storyline, showcasing his unique capabilities alongside a talented international cast. For this reason, “Kandahar” definitely deserves viewers’ attention.

The narrative is not only about political and military skirmishes but also about human lives and destinies. Tom Harris is not merely an agent confronting various dangers; he is also a devoted father who misses his daughter’s graduation ceremony, adding a deeper layer to his character through this personal subplot. In addition, the interpreter, Muhammad, who travels with Harris, broadens the human element of the film with his individual drama and tragedy. These elements might be somewhat clichéd, but they still stay within the bounds of bearability.

Nonetheless, while “Kandahar” tries to introduce numerous intricate storylines and characters, the film doesn’t always manage to maintain focus on the main plotline, occasionally distracting from the dangerous journey of Tom and Muhammad. Despite this, the director and screenwriter evidently endeavored to paint a nuanced picture of the situation, refraining from blindly condemning or cursing an entire group of people, but this (among other factors) slightly muddles the storyline at times.

“Kandahar,” however, is visually stunning, portraying the desert landscape in the style of “Lawrence of Arabia” and “Mad Max”. The cinematographer, MacGregor, with his moving camera, managed to create a dynamic, fast-paced atmosphere that escalates the narrative’s tension.

No Longer Just “B for Butler”

Overall, “Kandahar” marks a significant leap forward compared to the B-grade Butler films we’ve become accustomed to. While Waugh and LaFortune attempted to integrate the action star into this intricate geopolitical narrative, they evidently became wedged between the rocks of realism and the Hollywood approach. However, Butler’s performance alongside the talented international cast – including Fazal and Fimmel – is rather enjoyable, and “Kandahar,” with its more intricate storytelling, might be worth a watch.

In addition, “Kandahar” is a bold attempt to merge adrenaline-charged scenes of action films with a faithful depiction of a geopolitical context. Although the movie occasionally loses control due to an excess of characters and plotlines, the lead actor, Gerard Butler, and the talented international cast make the film intriguing nonetheless. “Kandahar” thus provides an exciting journey worth undertaking, even if the map appears a bit confusing at times.

-BadSector-