Introduction
Saleh is known at least in part for his 2022 action-thriller The Contractor, which is his first foray into English-language features. The film was released with a screenplay by J.P. Davis and a cast led by Chris Pine, delving into the morally unclear and often dark milieu of private military contracting and the post-service life of American veterans.
Unlike the majority of action films which are produced and released today, The Contractor is kinder in its narrative focus. The film deals with the psychological impact of long-drawn war – the soldier’s entrapment in a system that treats them as disposable once their use is over, and the overwhelming loss that stems out of it. The film was released during a time of increasing awareness toward veterans-related issues and a pervasive sense of distrust toward various government institutions.
Plot Summary
The action revolves around James Harper, an acclaimed Green Beret, who is abruptly kicked out of the US military for a life-altering medication prescribed for a chronic pain condition. Along with the sudden discharge, Harper faces a host of problems – no benefits, no pension, and no clear future. To add to his woes, the Harper family includes his physically and emotionally scarred self, a wife in the form of Brianne, and a young son to support.
With no options left and a sense of urgency, Harper reconnects with Mike, an old military acquaintance, who introduces him to Rusty Jennings. Jennings is a former military officer who now operates a private paramilitary group. Rusty offers Harper a job as a black ops contractor, performing work outside of U.S. government oversight. The payment is good, danger is guaranteed, and legality is fuzzy, at best.
Harper’s new role takes him to Berlin, Germany, with a mission to eliminate a bioweapons scientist. From the get-go, Harper runs into complications: the job is far from what he was told, the target’s identity is questionable, and he’s provided no support from his team.
After that point, Harper’s story morphs into a striking tale of espionage, intrigue, and relentless self-preservation. Stranded and wounded in a foreign country, he has to outsmart an intricate web of conspiracies in order to unmask the truth, avoid death, and return to his family.
As he reveals more details surrounding the mission alongside Rusty’s intentions, Harper comes to the conclusion that he has been manipulated. What was once a protective measure aimed at safeguarding his close circles has spiraled into a devastating betrayal that may cost him his life.
Main Cast and Performances
Chris Pine as James Harper
Departing from the action-hero image he has been typecast into, Chris Pine emphasizes the deeply human, emotional, and layered aspects of Harper. Pine steps into the shoes of a man burdened with a life-altering injury, an identity crisis, and a betrayal from the institution he served his entire life for. It is a quietly restrained performance where he is internalized, as if he is trying to keep it together while everything he depended on crumbles.
Ben Foster as Mike
As Harper’s close friend and former teammate, Ben Foster once again showcases his range by delivering an intense and captivating performance. Foster portrays a morally ambiguous character who, while charismatic, has a genuine loyalty to Harper but also has a part to play in ushering him into the private contractor world. The chemistry between Pine and Foster is palpable and mirrors their prior collaboration in Hell or High Water.
Kiefer Sutherland as Rusty Jennings
Sutherland plays the manipulative head of the private operation. He is charming, unwavering, and quietly sinister, a man dripping with patriotism yet exploiting the very ideals for profit.
Gillian Jacobs as Brianne Harper
Jacobs’s warm and supportive portrayal of Harper’s wife adds depth and nuance, even if her role is brief. She serves as a symbol of everything Harper seeks to defend and as the emotional ballast that keeps him steady.
Themes and Analysis
- Post-Military Struggles
At its core, The Contractor examines the aftermath of a soldier’s service and what happens when they are no longer “useful”. Harper’s early scenes reveal a man the military discarded because he was no longer a peak performer. His isolation, both physically and psychologically, is mired within a hostile system built to treat him as a burden. The film seeks to highlight the problem of veterans being sidelined, left with scant support as they are expected to fend for themselves.
- Exploitation Under the Guise of Patriotism
Rusty’s operation is predicated on the appeal to dutiful men like Harper. However, what he offers is a thin veneer of patriotism used to justify illegal and unethical missions. The film contributes to the understanding of how private military companies formulate a language of service and sacrifice in the name of profit and send operatives into morally ambiguous conflicts.
- Survival and Isolation
When Harper is left to fend for himself, the film’s focus shifts into a survival thriller. The foreign setting of Berlin, along with the outer countryside, feels stifling and hostile. The absence of backup, communication, and trust turns the battlefield into a far more personal struggle and transforms the fight from one for a nation or cause to a battle for clarity and survival.
- Brotherhood and Betrayal
The bonds in the film, and more in particular the one between Harper and Mike, illuminate the realities of loyalty’s troubling facets. Even within the set of “brothers” and “brothers-in-arms,” there exists a boundary and a betrayal. The exploration of the consequences of such betrayal is rendered with a degree of psychological realism that is striking in its absence from the vast majority of action films.
Direction and Style:
As with all his works, The Contractor is directed by Tarik Saleh, who is revered for his political thrillers and stylized directorial choice. Saleh has brought a more tempered and grounded realism, especially to the action and combat sequences, which are suspenseful without going over the top. Military gunfights are to the point, savage and chaotic; short, brutal, and savage, as one would expect from elite military operators.
Sharply cold, stark tones highlight the more emotionally isolating parts of Harper. Berlin’s cityscapes, hotel rooms, and underground scenes are simultaneously devoid of warmth and dangerous. Even quiet moments are tense with a palpable danger.
Unlike other films, The Contractor exercises deliberateness, focusing on Harper’s loneliness, contemplations, injuries, and silence, as opposed to constant action.
Reception
With The Contractor, critics and audiences alike seemed to be divided while remaining mostly positive. Centered on a more solitary character in Harper, the film instead challenged audiences to reconcile with his journey, promoting a level of solitude and thought rarely seen in action films. Audiences who sought a more conventional action film seemed to be the most put off by this. Regardless, praise for the film targeted the attempt to provide an unvarnished portrayal of the human cost of war, especially with regards to privatized violence.
As for the cast, Chris Pine was cited for his nuanced and restrained performance, receiving praise for deepening the character and marking a more grounded shift in his career.
Conclusion
The Contractor does not fit the mold of an action movie. Although the film features its fair share of suspenseful moments, gun battles, and secret missions, the heart of the story is about a man who has been stripped of identity, purpose, and trust. The film focuses on the journey of James Harper to address timely concerns about veterans’ rights, warfare privatization, and the ambiguous line between service and exploitation.
The film is gripping and thought-provoking, presenting a haunting narrative that seeks to answer challenging questions about our moral obligations to veterans and the post-service care they receive—especially when the system discards them.
The Contractor is a must watch for viewers looking for a well-balanced mix between action and sophisticated, albeit meaningful, drama. The film blends adrenaline and contemplation, setting it apart in the military-thriller category.
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