Mosul

Film d'action militariste sans stars occidentales. Tourné (évidemment) dans un cadre authentique de ruines d'une ville irakienne d'après-guerre. Tout au long du film, nous suivons une unité de guerriers locaux qui sont les seuls à combattre l'État Islamique. Et nous observons leur mission avec un objectif secret et assez surprenant. Une légère plongée dans les personnages, mais hormis cela une simple action de soldats sans fioritures, réaliste et poussiéreuse, rachetée par une conclusion plus spirituelle et émouvante. (14/02/2021)

The anticipated Mosul from the Russo brothers on Netflix is a slight disappointment for me, and maybe the TV series Fauda, which I finished watching yesterday, is to blame for that. Mosul takes place in Iraq, where we follow a SWAT unit as they navigate enemy territory with the mission of rescuing a child. I was bothered that none of the SWAT characters are interesting; I can't remember a single name already. All the characters are interchangeable, none stand out, and that undermines the film. After the initial action set-piece, the film takes a turn (do we really have to watch the SWAT team watching a soap opera on TV and smoking a hookah?) and becomes more of a drama, which surprisingly didn't entertain me at all. The action is lacking for my taste, and even when it does happen, it's not very interesting, not brutal or intense enough. The only thing I can praise is that characters are eliminated even within their own ranks. I was disappointed that there isn't even a proper villain – ISIS is not explored here, they only serve as foot soldiers – and the strange ending didn't sit well with me either. Mosul is decently shot, and those with low expectations might enjoy it more, but it didn't impress me at all. Story***, Action***, Humor>No, Violence**, Entertainment***, Music***, Visuals****, Atmosphere***, Tension***. 6/10. (27/11/2020)

I was quite excited about this war film set during the conflict with ISIS, and the Russo brothers’ production hinted at a certain level of quality, plus Matthew Michael Carnahan is known for being a skilled screenwriter. In the end, I’m satisfied, that’s for sure, but the film was missing a few elements to reach top-notch quality. I really liked the main character; the actor exuded charisma at every turn, making the casting a standout success. Other characters, except for the young police officer, didn’t get much development since many members of the Iraqi SWAT team died throughout the film (characters were eliminated at a rapid pace). The action was rather intimate but realistically portrayed. The bombed-out surroundings of Mosul and the crumbling buildings all added immense appeal to the film. The single, yet decent twist with the planted bomb genuinely surprised me. The ending didn’t disappoint. It’s a meticulously crafted film, but something was missing for it to reach the metaphorical pedestal. For me, it’s a strong three stars. 7/10. (03/12/2020)