Warfare: A New Standard in Cinematic Combat

by

Approximately every few years, filmmakers strive to transport viewers into the harrowing reality of warfare, raising the bar with each attempt; this is exactly what Alex Garland and Ray Mendoza achieved with their film Warfare. In a unique live screening event at the Legion Theater at Hollywood Post 43, Warfare was presented to veterans, chosen media representatives, and some of the filmmakers. A Q&A session followed, delving into the creative process that enabled Garland and others to collaborate with Mendoza in portraying his personal account of a single day during the 2006 Ramadi conflict on screen.

Movies like “Black Hawk Down“, “Saving Private Ryan“, and “Dunkirk” often come to mind when discussing pivotal instances in film where directors leverage cinematic tools to immerse viewers in the reality of combat veterans. The movie “Warfare” takes this intensity a step further, discarding many cinematic norms to provide a more authentic experience. For instance, there’s no conventional soundtrack in the film. It adopts a more documentary-style approach, offering an unfiltered perspective that never pauses to explain characters, their traits, or their motivations. The opening operation, which sets the tone for the narrative, seems as if we’re peering through a time window, witnessing events as they unfold in real-time.

When difficulties arise during the mission and insurgents launch an attack on the team’s position, the unit swiftly transitions into a state of emergency; the audience finds themselves in the midst of a truly extraordinary ordeal. The individuals who lived through these events recounted their experiences for us, delving into their pain and hardships to provide insight to audiences worldwide. This was not only an act of camaraderie among them, but also a means of initiating dialogue for those who struggled to articulate their feelings or find the right way to express themselves. They did it for one another. They did it to encourage conversations about the harsh realities they encountered. They did it to bring people worldwide closer to understanding the horror they faced.

Serving Memory in ‘Warfare’

In Alex Garland’s perspective, and that of Mendoza, the film had to authentically represent the actual events experienced by them and other veterans. As Garland put it, “The film stays in that tense state until circumstances alleviate the pressure or the situation changes, and that’s what Warfare does – it sticks to reality, not the comforts of cinema.” In other words, the film needed to be a faithful portrayal of their memories.

Garland commented: “Memory can be intricate; it’s not like a recording or a picture. It gets significantly influenced over time, but it’s also impacted by stress, trauma, and concussions.” A key character within the narrative is Elliot Miller. Mendoza revealed that Elliot’s traumatic wounds have not only affected his limbs and cognitive abilities but also his ability to recall daily events. The movie is in honor of Elliot, and in many aspects, it serves as an attempt by Mendoza and others to help him remember and visualize the past events.

Initially, Mendoza’s recollections formed the foundation of the script. Later, Mendoza and Garland sought out as many men who were there in Ramadi on that day as possible, aiming to enrich the narrative with additional details, more supporting facts, and to portray the events truthfully. During these discussions, Garland noted the unusual sincerity of these men: “The extent to which they were open, refraining from trying to make themselves look good or embellish their roles, truly delved into the truth of what happened.

In this production, Cosmo Jarvis takes on the role of Elliot, while Joseph Quinn steps into the character originally intended for Joe Hildebrand, now named Sam. D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai portrays Mendoza. These actors were selected for their youth, fitness, and eagerness to fully immerse themselves in a process that would bring them somewhat nearer to the real training demanded.

‘Warfare’ Cares About Attention to Detail

For Mendoza, this movie serves as a platform to connect with viewers and discuss war experiences, but it also aims to initiate a dialogue among military veterans. Initially, when Mendoza left the military, they found it difficult to articulate the chaos of the event using words. They lacked the language to express what was happening. To bridge this gap, Mendoza and their team intend to create an immersive experience through cinematic storytelling that conveys the raw emotions in a manner mere words can’t. Mendoza emphasizes, “If you’ve ever been in a firefight, you recognize the disorientation of it. How do I portray the confusion… Where is the gunfire coming from? What does it sound like? Every gunshot, every explosion, it wasn’t just thrown haphazardly… it’s deliberate, it’s purposeful.

In this particular instance, the team was so meticulous that minor alterations were made up until the last minute before filming. In one of the rare images showing the actual house where the men were trapped, there was an odd wall at the top of a staircase. Garland suspected the photo depicted a different house and none of the men could provide an explanation for it. It wasn’t until the day before shooting that Joe Hildebrand confirmed he distinctly recalled the wall and even breaking through it with a sledgehammer. As a result, on that very night, Garland and Mendoza instructed the art department to include the wall in the set and had the actors smash through it during filming the following day. This incident served as an example for Garland of not only their dedication to authenticity and remembering details but also the unpredictable nature of memory, as they had to rely on what it could offer.

Hildebrand appended a remark concerning Mendoza, who is more than just a filmmaker; he symbolizes the genuine, non-Hollywood style portrayed in the movie “Warfare”.

As I sat in the cinema, a hauntingly familiar scene unfolded before me – a house strikingly identical to one I had occupied nearly two decades ago. Memories flooded back like a tidal wave, transporting me to a time when I was lying there beside Ray, my heart pounding with the certainty that he would save my life, and he did. It’s truly astonishing to me that Ray, who directed this film without embellishment, managed to portray his character so accurately. To capture the essence of a true, quiet, graceful SEAL is no easy feat, but in this case, it’s nothing short of remarkable.

Mendoza and Garland have artfully blended real-life combat experience and recollections, skillfully applying cinematic techniques, to create a vivid portrayal of the authentic, terrifying reality of ground warfare. It’s a treat for us all that they did so with such care, finesse, and mastery. The film “Warfare” will be gracing theaters on April 11.

Read More

2025-03-13 23:32