The world's most influential film industry, Hollywood, has expressed interest in the War on Terror, launched in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks. It has had a profound effect on international politics. The way Hollywood has portrayed the War on Terror in films, TV shows, and other forms of media has contributed to molding and reflecting the geopolitics that the public has adopted.
Hollywood has portrayed terrorism in various ways, frequently portraying it as a worldwide threat that requires forceful military action. Films like "Zero Dark Thirty" (2012), which dramatizes the hunt for Osama bin Laden, and "American Sniper" (2014), which is based on the life of Chris Kyle, a U.S. Navy SEAL sniper, have portrayed terrorists as merciless and evil, justifying the need for military involvement.
U.S. soldiers have frequently been presented in Hollywood as heroes in the War on Terror. U.S. soldiers are portrayed in films like "Black Hawk Down" (2001) and "Lone Survivor" (2013) as courageous, selfless warriors who defy extraordinary odds to defend their nation and stop terrorists. These representations frequently helped to bolster U.S. military interventions and advance a pro-military narrative.
Hollywood has frequently portrayed contentious interrogation methods, such as torture, in the context of the War on Terror. Despite the moral and legal issues with such tactics, films like "Zero Dark Thirty" and "Rendition" (2007) have demonstrated the effectiveness of using torture to obtain information from terrorists. These depictions have generated controversy and discussion, with some critics contending that they normalize and legitimize torture.
Hollywood has also come under fire for reinforcing orientalist and Islamophobic stereotypes in its depiction of the War on Terror. Movies like "Rules of Engagement" (2000) and "Iron Man" (2008) have portrayed Middle Eastern and Muslim characters as terrorists or villains, adding to unfavorable stereotypes and encouraging Islamophobia. These depictions have come under fire for spreading prejudice and discrimination towards Muslims and conveying a biased and oversimplified perspective of the Middle East and Islam.
While many Hollywood films have backed American military involvement in the War on Terror, several films have provided a critical viewpoint on U.S. foreign policy. Films like "Syriana" (2005) and "Green Zone" (2010) have explored the intricacies and repercussions of American participation in the Middle East, as well as the failures and unintended effects of U.S. foreign policy. These films have questioned the basic presumptions and results of the War on Terror, offering a more nuanced view of it.
Hollywood has recently begun to humanize the other, mainly Muslim characters, in the backdrop of the War on Terror. Films like "The Mauritanian" (2020) and "Ramy" (TV series, 2019–present) have challenged preconceptions and biases related to the War on Terror by portraying Muslim characters as multifaceted people with their own stories, problems, and goals. These representations have been viewed as a more inclusive and sympathetic way of reflecting various cultures and groups affected by the conflict.
Based on the nonfiction book of the same name written by Marcus Luttrell and Patrick Robinson in 2007, Lone Survivor is a 2013 American biographical war movie. It dramatizes the failed Operation Red Wings counter-insurgency campaign carried out by the US Navy SEALs, during which a four-person SEAL reconnaissance and surveillance unit was tasked with finding the Taliban leader Ahmad Shah. The story takes place during the Afghan War. The movie stars Mark Wahlberg, Taylor Kitsch, Emile Hirsch, Ben Foster, and Eric Bana and was written and directed by Peter Berg.
The movie begins with a long montage of actual Navy SEALs in training and concludes with a slide presentation of real-life SEALs and troops leading fulfilling off-duty lives set to an emotive power ballad. What happens in between is akin to "The Passion of the Christ" for American servicemen: a horrible historical incident told primarily through images of tough young men being torn apart and screaming. Using an Afghan hill to watch over the compound of Taliban leader Ahmad Shah (Yousuf Azami), SEAL Team 10 soldiers perform a deftly timed sequence. Berg creates suspense by limiting our vision to the four Seals sitting in their positions, barely hidden by low pine branches, and their perspective of the valley. They converse as though they were back at the base to relieve their tension, increasing our own. Their geographic advantage turns into a trap over time. There is a gradual change from regular scouting and insane combat.
This movie, which Berg closely consulted on while it was being made, has a genuineness and a respect for the military that should not be mistaken for depth. Though "Lone Survivor" has good intentions, its commentary on the consequences of modern combat is neither novel nor enlightening. It is made of the same material formerly used to create the legend of Pat Tillman and the Saving Private Lynch story, honoring sacrifice with imagery that the American war machine can quickly transform into a recruitment advertisement. Political considerations become irrelevant in "Lone Survivor," favoring the warrior's faith, emphasizing surviving hardships while defending the brother at your side. This story concerns equipment flaws and poor operations planning that put Luttrell and his brothers in danger. Broken phones, radios, and unavailable helicopters are among their most significant concerns.
The film's depiction of the events leading up to Operation Red Wings has also drawn criticism. Some claim that the film alters the operation's facts in biased and sensationalized ways, departing from how Luttrell's memoir describes the events. Overall, "Lone Survivor" is an intense and moving war movie that gives a harrowing image of the realities of fighting and the relationship between troops. Although it has received accolades for its acting and action scenes, it has also been under fire for how Afghan characters are portrayed and for maybe deviating from the actual events. When analyzing the movie's portrayal of the Afghan War, it is crucial to examine it critically and consider various viewpoints.
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