'Warfare' Is One of the Best War Movies of the Post-9/11 Era

"Warfare" isn't just the most authentic, well-shot, superbly acted and properly paced war film of the post-9/11 era of military movies. In all likelihood, it will end up ranking as one of the best action war movies in cinematic history. The sights, sounds and emotional energy make it stay with you and could even change your view of combat operations.

Based on a memory from Ray Mendoza, who served for 16 years as a Navy SEAL and deployed to Iraq twice, "Warfare" embeds audiences with a SEAL platoon on a surveillance mission gone wrong in insurgent territory. Written and directed by Mendoza and acclaimed filmmaker Alex Garland ("Civil War," "28 Days Later"), the film is a visceral, boots-on-the-ground story of modern combat and brotherhood, told like never before: in real time and based on the memory of the people who lived it.

"Warfare" -- which will be in theaters beginning on April 11, 2025 -- also serves as a definitive tribute to Elliott Miller, a SEAL who was seriously wounded during the operation that is the core of the motion picture's monumental story. The movie's energy is so visceral and intense that it might even change the average viewer's conception of combat operations.

The actors in "Warfare" not only hold their own, but distinctly embody what their characters are going through on many levels. You can see, sense and respond to the players on screen because of their strong choices and emotional preparations for the role. The movie's talented cast includes D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Will Poulter, Cosmo Jarvis, Kit Connor, Finn Bennett, Taylor John Smith, Michael Gandolfini, Adain Bradley, Noah Centineo, Evan Holtzman, Henrique Zaga with Joseph Quinn and Charles Melton.

All the actors went through a BUD/S-styled training regimen for three weeks to prepare them physically, mentally and tactically for their parts. Certain members of the real-life SEAL platoon visited the set and provided input for the roles to the actors. Such in-person consultation, commentary and finely tuned performances beg comparisons to the "Band of Brothers" series' level of authenticity. The preparation, determination and talent of the cast take "Warfare" to the next level.

All of the cast did great work; however, some gave pivotal and important performances. Woon-A-Tai convincingly portrays Mendoza and shows a range of emotions as his character experiences the harsh realities of combat while trying to save his teammates. Jarvis does fine work as Miller. Poulter delivers a strong performance as Captain Erik, the officer in charge (OIC) of the operation, who does his best to keep it together, and Quinn displays impressive range as Sam, who was based on Joe Hildebrand, a SEAL who was also gravely injured on the operation. Gandolfini delivers a convincing character as a Marine captain attached to the unit, and Melton brings a cool, authoritative presence to his role as OIC Jake Wayne.

Related: 4 Questions for 'Warfare' Filmmakers Alex Garland and Ray Mendoza

The cast's artistic acting craft displayed on the silver screen will stand out during the awards season and be a testament to future acting generations on what real looks like. Much credit goes to Kharmel Cochrane and her artistic efforts as the casting director. She superbly cast the roles, which led to much on-screen chemistry and reality. She has cast notable projects such as "John Wick: Chapter 4," "A Quiet Place: Day One" and "The Lighthouse." For "Warfare," she brought all of that experience and more. The cast's chemistry adds to the reality of the film, which gives further credence to Cochrane's efforts.

"Warfare"'s storytelling is a nonstop adrenaline rush to the conclusion that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The film's pacing keeps you engaged throughout, and there is never a dull moment. Between action points, the audience is left to wait until the next combat peak of adrenaline and how the SEAL platoon will survive and thrive until the battle's conclusion. The film has zero fluff or Hollywood-isms, which makes it a great treat for veterans and those who want to see something authentic. Garland and Mendoza's story craft is second to none and brings their best to keep the audience engaged.

The foundations of the crew strongly engender the accuracy and strength of the product, especially the cinematography. Cinematographer David J. Thompson, who shot "Civil War" for Garland, captivates you from the first frame and reels you in with its intensity, lighting and grittiness. The lifelike imagery makes you feel the sweat, pain and danger from every angle because of Thompson's work. The film's visualization is a superb masterpiece that is a wartime Rembrandt for the eyes.

Another significant pillar of the movie's thoroughness is the production design by Mark Digby. The exterior and interior of the compound, where much of the film takes place, are as real as you can get with an added dose of combat wear and tear. The set looks not only real, but is built to be "inhabited" by the actors and is like having another character for the film. Digby's efforts add the necessary depths of realism to make the audience feel like everything is happening in real-time.

David Crossman adds his highly professional and detailed costume design to the movie. He brings decades of experience from starting his career on "Saving Private Ryan" and then on to more recent projects with "Napoleon," "1917" and the more recent "Star Wars" films. The period-accurate, worn-looking uniforms with authentic kits and weapons further bring the reality home. You can almost smell the dusty outfits, sweat and gunpowder through the screen. His professional skill sets witnessed in "Warfare" have been greatly supplemented by collaborations with Steven Spielberg, Ridley Scott and Sam Mendes. Crossman adds a pivotal part to the film with his great costume work.

The editing and sound design are significant and memorable. Fin Oates' editing and Glenn Freemantle's sound design give further credence to the depth of research and intensity placed on the silver screen for the audience's ocular and auditory senses. Oates' editing cuts are perfect, and the storytelling is highly amplified by his efforts. She knows what to do and when to do it to get the maximum value out of a scene. Her editing was so well-done that I highly believe it is one of the reasons why the audience was on edge, as they did not know what was coming next.

Freemantle's artistic merits with the sound helped to create the combat environment with the auditory effects. The gunfire, radio chatter, explosions and dialogue amplify the humanity of it, which makes for a full sensory charge throughout the audience's nervous system. It is my belief their production work will long be recognized in the industry as one of the best. Oates and Freemantle accomplished high feats and did noteworthy work with their editing and sound design.

The overall film is great because of its writer-director team. Garland and Mendoza have truly outdone themselves as they delivered on so many points in the film in a short shooting period and with such high standards. They developed a great project in a brief amount of time that is a rush of exhilaration; coupled with realistic dialogue and an immersive environment, the film will live on as a testament to what is expected of a war film.

I thoroughly enjoyed all aspects of the picture and have recalled certain moments from it in my daily life. The powerful testament that is told on screen serves as a great tribute to Miller, as an authentic recollection for those who fought that day and as a way to process the traumatic events. I am pleased and grateful to have attended an in-person screening, especially with so many fellow veterans in the audience. It was a cathartic response to my own experiences overseas. From the gun battles, to the critical injuries and the team rallying to win, "Warfare," with its overall talented team, should be No. 1 on your list of motion pictures to see.

Related: The Real Military History Behind the New Iraq War Film 'Warfare'

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