For the second time this year, a film is hitting theaters focusing on the turmoil and chaos in the Middle East and an American and his interpreter fighting to escape Afghanistan. The first was Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant starring Jake Gyllenhaal. The second is the action drama Kandahar with Gerard Butler.
Kandahar centers around Tom Harris, an undercover CIA operative portrayed by Butler, who manages to uncover a clandestine nuclear facility in Iran and dismantle it. Although his mission is nearly flawless, a whistleblower at the Pentagon leaks the operation to a British journalist (Elnaaz Norouzi). Consequently, the journalist is apprehended by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard and subjected to interrogation.
Harris’s handler, Roman (Travis Fimmel), alerts his agent that his cover has been exposed. He instructs Harris to travel 400 miles to a former CIA facility in Kandahar, where he will be safely extracted from the country. Harris informs his confused translator, Muhammad (Navid Negahban), “Our cover is blown…we leave in 15 minutes.” He proceeds to destroy any incriminating evidence, including his laptop and operation-related documents.
As the unlikely pair trek across the perilous and seemingly endless desert, they are pursued by multiple groups, including Afghan forces, the Taliban, and Kahil (Ali Fazal), a Pakistani ISIS-K agent tasked with capturing Harris so they can sell him to the highest bidder.
Director Ric Roman Waugh reunites with his Angel Has Fallen and Greenland star Gerard Butler for Kandahar, a suspenseful, gritty thriller with exciting action scenes and solid performances by its two leading men. Butler is perfectly cast as Harris, a lifelong spy who can’t imagine himself doing anything else and is exceptional at his job. Butler also brings a relatable human element to Harris with the backstory of his loving daughter whose childhood he missed and a failed marriage that couldn’t survive his career.
Navid Negahban is terrific as Muhammed, Harris’s translator who becomes tied to Harris in a race to get out of what once was his country and get to the US to reunite with his family. Negahban has solid chemistry with Butler, and the few quiet scenes between the two men, as they either hide or catch their breath, give the film its heart. They must trust each other and work together if they are to have any chance of making it to the CIA airbase.
Ali Fazal delivers a standout performance as Kahil, the Pakistani agent on the hunt for Harris and Muhammed. Fazal portrays Kahil as a deliberate, crafty, and stylish foe who also happens to have impressive motorcycle riding skills in the desolate desert.
Mitchell LaFortune, a former military intelligence officer, has created a screenplay that exudes authenticity and realism. The backstory of the main characters is well-developed, allowing the audience to empathize and support them. The action scenes are thrilling and well-choreographed. One particularly impressive and exhilarating scene involves a nighttime helicopter and truck chase that utilized night vision goggles and featured breathtaking stunts and camera work.
Kandahar is a gripping chase film that boasts impressive performances, stirring action scenes, and smart screenplay. The R-rated action film keeps you on the edge of your seat and is worth checking out for fans of the genre.
GRADE: B
MPAA Rating: R for violence and language
Running Time: 2 hours
Release Date: May 26, 2023
Studio: Open Road Films
