Today’s quick review: Mine. Marine sniper Mike Stevens (Armie Hammer) and his spotter Tommy (Tom Cullen) are trekking through the desert when Tommy is badly injured by a landmine. As Mike goes to help, he steps on another one and is forced to stay where he is to avoid setting it off. With the nearest help over two days away and only a passing Berber (Clint Dyer) in sight, Mike must figure out how to keep himself alive long enough for rescue to come.
Mine is a war movie and psychological drama about a Marine trapped on a landmine. Mike Stevens faces dehydration, the elements, and his own inner demons as he struggles to survive. Mine aims to be a powerful tale of perseverance that digs deeply into its protagonist’s psyche. The movie’s high ambitions lead to some clever moments and some emotional heft, but it lacks the fine touch needed to make its themes feel natural and rewarding.
Mine has a tendency to overplay its hand. Instead of focusing on Mike’s predicament and letting the psychological drama happen organically, the movie is explicit about the connection between the mine and his inner demons. Regrets about his childhood, his relationship with Jenny (Annabelle Wallis), and going off to war weigh heavy on Mike’s mind. These are interesting themes to explore, but their discussion within the story is fairly blunt.
Mine can also be difficult to follow. For the sake of drama, the movie plays coy about just what’s been eating at Mike. But this leads to flashbacks without context that become downright confusing as Mike starts to hallucinate. Still, even with these drawbacks, the strength of Mine’s ideas shines through. Mine tries too hard to be dramatic and to deliver a message, but along the way it pulls off some clever tricks, all within a limited premise.
Mine is an odd movie that will not appeal to everyone. Those who appreciate the puzzle of constructing a minimalistic and highly personal film will find it to be an interesting watch, albeit one with some flaws. Those hoping for a more conventional war drama or a more straightforward tale of survival will probably want to look elsewhere.
For another tale of survival in a harsh environment, try Moon, The Martian, or 127 Hours. For a more mundane journey into one man’s psyche, try Locke.
5.9 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 for bold ideas and mixed execution.