Fine, but not as clever as it might think it is.

Rating: 6/10 (29 January 2019)

Despite the ensemble cast, there are only a couple of interesting characters here, mainly the ones whom the film spares time to focus on. Eversmann is the obvious protagonist, a reluctant leader who keeps morale up but feels guilty when some of his men die. There's also Grimes, who can feel overly comedic at times, but it's nice to see him grow from the out-of-his-depth coffee boy to a reliable team member. Most (not all, but most) of the others are recognisable only because their name is scrawled on their helmet, so really this is a movie about the situation, not the characters.
It's pretty detailed in that regard. The jargon-heavy dialogue and cold radio chatter set the tone, and there are some very memorable moments like when Blackburn falls from the helicopter or when Othic pockets a severed hand he finds on the ground (the movie literally pauses for a second in surprise at that one, which is a nice touch of editing). It's a shame that so much of the runtime is people shooting at each other, which lost my interest when it wasn't moving the characters along through the plot.
The score blends typical elements like synthesisers and drums with traditional African choruses and instruments, which is cool, though some of the guitar-driven rock music would feel more at home in a video game cutscene. Visually, there are lots of sickly greens making the very environment look unwelcoming, but the cinematography isn't too memorable otherwise, and there's too much headache-inducing editing and camerawork. The soundscape, overall, is very nicely designed.
Repeated throughout is the message that "no man gets left behind", but that patriotic sentiment is contrasted with horrific injury detail (poorly imitating "Saving Private Ryan" (1998)?), as well as dialogue from Somali characters criticising the Americans for getting involved in their civil war. It all feels like an effort to mask the otherwise nakedly patriotic portrayal of Americans and unsympathetic portrayal of Somalis, whose militia come across like a savage horde of zombies. I do like the symbolism of Garrison mopping up blood in the hospital.
I guess you're supposed to come out of this film feeling like you've just witnessed a tale of true camaraderie, but to me it felt more like the tale of a cock-up of American interventionism. It's mostly well-made, but it's not as heady or insightful as it thinks it is.
6/10.