Ghost Recon

Author(s): Zgamer
Location: Eagle, ID

“Ghost Recon"

Distriuted by: Universal Studios
Produced by: Paul Sandberg, Frank Marshall and Tom Clancy
Directed by: Paul Greengrass
Written by: Paul Greengrass
Based on the game by Ubisoft Entertainment

Principal Cast:

Kiefer Sutherland as Captain Scott Mitchell (Ghost)
Milo Ventimiglia as Sergeant First Class Joe Ramirez (Ghost)
Chiwetel Ejiofor as Sergeant Marcus Brown (Ghost)
Evangeline Lilly as Sergeant Alicia Diaz (Ghost)
Tom Sizemore as Sergeant Richard Allen (Ghost)
Barry Pepper as Sergeant KC Kirkland (Ghost)
Michael Pena as General Carlos Ontiveros (Rebels)
Ed Harris as General Allen Martin (U.S.)
Louis Gossett Jr. as General Marshall Keating
Chris Cooper as President James Ballantine (U.S.)
Benico Del Toro as President Marcos Ruiz-Pena (Mexico)
Bruce Greenwood as Prime Minister Phillip Jacques (Canada)

Tagline: “The future of war is at our doorstep”

Synopsis: 11:00 PM August 17, 2013. U.S. President James Ballantine arrives at the Mexican Capital Building. He, along with Mexican President Marcos Ruiz-Pena and Canadian Prime Minister Phillip Jacques, are meeting to sign a historic document: The North American Joint Security Agreement. With this, the three countries would be able to unite and crack down against illegal drug trafficking, immigration and funding of terrorist activities in their continent. Though there are powerful figures on each side that are against the document, most notably Mexico’s head General Carlos Ontiveros, the summit commences nonetheless.

12:30 PM. A Black Hawk helicopter’s rotor echoes over the silent streets of Mexico City. Captain Scott Mitchell, one of the army’s most skilled operatives, wipes the sweat from his brow as he looks over the edge to see the city below. Soon, he and his elite “Ghost” team will reach their LZ to complete their new task. The day before, a U.S. Spy Plane carrying an experimental weapon known as “Guardrail IX” was shot down somewhere in Nicaragua. Just today, reports leaked that an unknown arms dealer had recovered the device and is preparing to deliver it to a Mexican rebel organization within the city. This is a serious problem to the U.S., because the device is capable of disrupting all wireless communications at any specified location, which could lead to surprise attacks. As the copter lands, the Ghosts pile out and maneuver nimbly through the city, with only the humming of their up-to-date gadgets and weaponry audible in the silence. This relieves Mitchell at first, since he has high hopes the operation will go smoothly.

12:45 PM. Bullets tear through layers of wall as the Ghosts fall back to an extraction point. They had almost prevented the exchange, but at that exact moment a building exploded on their position. Out of nowhere, heavily armed rebels poured out of the streets and attacked the team. With no other options, Mitchell ordered an immediate retreat. Barely making it to the helicopter, the team is informed on the situation. It turns out that General Ontiveros, exposed as the leader of the rebels, has initiated a coup d’etat against the Mexican government to prevent the new pact, recognizing that the loss of drug trade would harm his cause. In the ensuing battle at the capital building, the Canadian Prime Minister was killed and the U.S. and Mexican President have been captured. With the support of Mexican officials still loyal to their government, U.S. Generals Martin and Keating have ordered troops into Mexico City to stop the rebel threat from spreading.

1:00 PM Mitchell and his team are dropped off at the Mexican Capital Building. News has just broke out that President Ballantine’s bodyguards had brought “The Nuclear Football” with them during the summit. If the rebels have gotten a hold of it, it would mean that they would have control of the detonation codes for the U.S. nuclear arsenal. The rebels now have a war machine capable of causing an international crisis. Worried, Russia and China have warned the U.S. that they have armed their arsenals to retaliate if the worse is to come. General Martin has now put the burden on the Ghosts to enter deep into Mexico City, recover the hostages and weapons and stop Ontiveros. Though not prepared for such an ordeal, the Ghosts stoically enter the war torn city.

What the press would say:

Imagine this situation. A near future where the weapons of war are better, the enemies are numerous and the threat of nuclear destruction is more possible than ever. Now imagine that this danger was so close that it was just south of your country’s border. This is the setting for Ghost Recon, Paul Greengrass’s fantastic integration of gritty political thrillers with the tense action of video games. However, it is simply more than an adaptation of some popular video game. It is a movie with a distinct identity that brings forth an important message that we are not immune from the wars and conflicts of the world. They can occur right at our doorstep.

Who could be a better choice to tell the story of the Ghost’s 72-hour excursion into Mexico than the talented Greengrass? Hot off the acclaim of his compelling 9/11 drama United 93, he has decided to work on a more commercial commodity, yet still bring a brooding sense of political intrigue and tension into our cinemas. In order to put the audience in the middle of the action yet keep an international feel to the situation, Greengrass uses fluid handheld style of cinematography to ensure that you are never to distant or close to the combat. You are in the moment at all times. And what a place to be in the moment, as Greengrass brings the luscious scenery of war torn Mexico City to life through a beautifully gritty color palette. Combining all of this with smart pacing, an amazing sound design, tight editing and some incredibly realistic gunfights to boost, Greengrass creates an amazing portrait of modern warfare.

Though the film is mostly Greengrass’s baby, the actors all play their parts well. Sutherland is an ideal Capt. Mitchell, with a commanding voice and figure that perfectly embodies the soldier of the future. His team of Ghosts, fitted with actors with just enough star power to not overwhelm the feeling of realism, give us a new reason why we should cheer for our troops all over the world. Even Michael Pena as the rebellious General Ontiveros keeps our attention as a compelling yet sympathetic villain, who throughout the movie feels his actions are justified for the purpose of benefiting his country. All the performances are finely tuned to help give a face to the suspense and tension the film oozes.

Though the academy may feel reluctant to vote a video game adaptation for an Oscar, I argue that idea with the fact that this does not feel like a video game movie at all. There is no overproduction, bad acting and unbelievable situations here to critique. This is an honest to goodness Tom Clancy political war thriller, and it’s here to stay.

Award Possibilities

Best Picture (Paul Sandberg, Frank Marshall and Tom Clancy)
Best Director (Paul Greengrass)
Best Adapted Screenplay (Paul Greengrass)
Best Cinematography (Slawomir Idziak)
Best Art Direction
Best Editing (Richard Pearson and Christopher Rouse)
Best Sound Design
Best Sound Editing