Netflix is not only about the latest in entertainment. The streaming platform’s library is a treasure trove for finding older films you might have missed around their original release times. And this time, we have a war film storming the Netflix top ten charts. Peter Berg’s Lone Survivor, starring Mark Wahlberg, stands strong at the sixth spot on the global top ten films list and an even more impressive third place on the Netflix US top ten films list. This war biopic delves into how a US Navy SEAL mission went awry.
Lone Survivor is adapted from the memoir of the same name by Marcus Luttrell. The film unfolds with a raw intensity that captivates audiences from start to finish. Friday Night Lights and Painkiller director Berg captures the essence of the events that unfolded during Operation Red Wings in Afghanistan.
Marcus Luttrell, a former US Navy SEAL and author, gained prominence for his harrowing survival story during Operation Red Wings in Afghanistan, detailed in his memoir Lone Survivor. Luttrell’s military service and subsequent literary contributions have made him an inspirational figure in the veteran community.
The story of Lone Survivor follows a four-man SEAL team on a covert mission to capture or kill a notorious Taliban leader. As the operation takes an unexpected turn, the team finds themselves facing impossible choices in the unforgiving Afghan mountains.
The title, Lone Survivor, hints at the ordeal Luttrell endured as the only SEAL team member to survive the disastrous mission. The cast of the film also includes other frequent Berg collaborators, Taylor Kitsch, Emile Hirsch, and Ben Foster.
Wahlberg takes centre stage in the film, portraying Marcus Luttrell himself. In an interaction with Rotten Tomatoes, Wahlberg once mentioned how Lone Survivor is one of the “more difficult” and “meaningful” films he has done in his career.
Beyond action, the film offers an exploration of camaraderie, sacrifice, and American heroism as we have seen through the lens of Hollywood. You can watch the Lone Survivor and catch the trailer here:
