Sometimes a movie exceeds the sum of its parts. Reflecting on Act of Valor, I find myself nit-picking the film to death. Yet I was engrossed in this film. It is difficult to rate a film that throws convention to the wind. But I will try.
On its surface, Act of Valor is a typical Hollywood action film. The story involves international espionage, big explosions and plenty of action. The characters are given cursory treatment, with modest personalities. While we don't get fully involved with the characters, they do manage to reach us. The plot itself lacks complexity, although the action does stretch the boundaries of credibility. If you want a good twist, rent a thriller. This one isn't going to offer up any surprises.
What most action films lack is realism. The acting may be awesome, but they fail to find the right language or grittiness, in spite of special advisers. Act of Valor began with special advisers, in the form of US Navy SEALS. The SEALS were eventually drafted to star in the film in order to bring the story a raw credibility that actors simply would not have. However, the exchange cost the film some credibility in terms of acting. It was an unusual trade off. For some, it might make this film unbearable. For me, it was the recipe for success.
While I was not a Navy SEAL, my background provides me with insight into the language and tactical considerations incorporated into this film. I am a bullet counter. I get irritated when I see an action star firing ten rounds from a six-shot revolver or fifty rounds from a standard automatic. In the movies, the good guys never reload. They never press-check their weapons, they charge the slide on a weapon that has just been fired (I saw this recently in the film Haywire...and wondered "why would you eject a perfectly good round from the chamber?") With Act of Valor, we get the full experience. From the distinctly military terminology to the tactical movement, we get an authentic glimpse into the world of special operations.
Are big explosions and authenticity enough to overcome average acting? For me, it was the flip-side of movies like Haywire. Although the acting in that film wasn't incredibly moving. The big action and realism counted a lot. However, the emotional sequences felt awkward. I really didn't buy into the performances, which affected my enjoyment of the characters slightly. However, I don't expect Navy SEALS to deliver an Oscar performance. They had greater credibility delivering certain lines (anyone that has been in a briefing can attest to the flavor of those scenes) but still managed to come off flat. I am torn, because I found I thoroughly enjoyed this film.
For films like Act of Valor, the special effects have a lot to do with success. On this point, I was pleased. Big explosions, awesome night-vision scenes and an introduction to the US arsenal made for an incredible visual experience. The film moves between point-of-view and standard cinematography to inject viewers into the action. It was stimulating, heart-pounding action. I could smell the sulfur.
The action and war violence were enough to earn this film an R rating by the MPAA. Typical. I didn't see anything close to some of the violence I have seen in shooter video games. There was a torture scene that was heavily edited, insinuating the violence. The film also had a scene that implied violence to children, with a very brief scene reminiscent of the Napalm photo during Vietnam. However, it flashes out quickly. The imagery has a war flavor, but doesn't come close to the violence in films like Saving Private Ryan.
I was anticipating a good film with Act of Valor. It is a rare film that provides precious insight into the mechanics of modern-day warfare. While more Hollywood than Documentary, the film does have an element of documentary feel. The biggest complaint about this film is going to be the performances. But what do you expect? You take hardened operators out of the field and put them in front of a camera and expect what? Tom Hanks? The performances are at their prime during the action scenes when the SEALS do their talking through their movements. These guys have trained for years to reach this level of expertise. An actor would never fully grasp these concepts without complete immersion into the culture. So we end up with an intriguing trade off. Normally we sacrifice authenticity for emotion. Here, we sacrifice some emotion for authenticity. It worked for me. 7.5/10.
