I am quite torn about how I feel with this 2016 war thriller starring Armie Hammer.
It’s one of those movies that must have sounded really cool and exciting during pitching. Until you see it unfold right before your eyes. It feels like the writers were too excited to build up the tension and ran short of time (or ideas) on how to make for a satisfying and explosive ending. Unless that ending was their plan all along.
What is Mine all about?
Armie Hammer plays Mike, a US Marine who accidentally steps on a landmine after a mission goes awry. Stuck in the middle of the desert, he must stay alive–and make sure his foot doesn’t move–until help arrives.
What’s good about Mine?
When I was browsing Netflix for good movies to watch, its poster caught my attention. So, good job to the creative department (and the platform’s algorithm that picks which posters to display) because it did its job.
The premise, I have to admit, is compelling. There are tons of war thrillers out there and we basically know what to expect. Directors Fabio Guaglione and Fabio Resinaro had a thrilling idea. A movie centered around someone who can’t move and has no access to immediate help is definitely something to watch. As an audience, your mind will start to wonder how the character will fare, knowing that surviving a landmine and the harsh elements of a desert it’s next to impossible.
So I guess this is the fuel that kept me going while watching the movie.
What is not so good about Mine?
You’ll start to see the shortcomings once Mike realizes help is not coming right away. The setup was great, but once we know that his options are limited, that’s where the challenge starts.
While I understand why his mind starts to play tricks on him and even takes him back to significant moments in his life that shaped his personality, the manner in which it was presented feels erratic and didn’t help push forward (or even sustain) the tension.
The ending–as much as it made me laugh–might not sit well with others who’ve become so engrossed with Mike’s plight. And that’s exactly why I’m still not certain about how I feel about this movie. One thing’s for sure, though: Armie Hammer acted the hell out of this material.
Mine is currently streaming on Netflix.
