A modern war film that divided fans, and stars one of the favourites to become the next James Bond, is streaming now. The Wall (2017) is set towards the end of the Iraq war, and tells the story of two American soldiers Sergeant Allen “Ize” Isaac (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and Staff Sergeant Shane Matthews (wrestling legend John Cena) who get pinned down by a feared Iraqi sniper.
Unable to escape, the sniper (voiced by Laith Nakli) then gets in contact via radio, giving the stand-off a surreal edge. The film is a chamber piece with a tiny cast of just three, including the voice of the off-screen marksman.
The film was directed by Doug Liman (behind the likes of Edge of Tomorrow, and Swingers) and written by Dwain Worrell.
Some felt The Wall was a fresh take on the war film genre, with one Audience Reviewer on Rotten Tomatoes writing: “Not your typical ‘American hero soldiers who never do anything bad or make a mistake’ military movie.
“Offers a subtle and realistic take on military occupation. Pacing was a little slow but Aaron-Taylor Johnson is great and was able to build enough tension to make it entertaining. The end makes it all worth it.”
Another said: “The Wall is more than a gimmick. Granted it’s a movie that pretty much relies on one person‘s performance but it’s a gimmick that kept me interested throughout the movie.
“There’s enough action, good performances, and tension to keep audiences interested. Even with the short length the movie does run a little long and some of the dialogue is a bit clunky and repetitive but it’s worth a watch.”
Overall the movie’s reception seems to be mixed, with another viewer suggesting it didn’t make the most of the promising idea that underpins it: “A cool concept, a story that could have potentially been riveting because this was something that really could have happened, a strong performance (as usual) by Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and the last 2 minutes are exciting, but overall pretty boring.”
Another said: “Quite weak, silly, and unrealistic. It’s an effort to finish it.”
However, another fan said the film does a “masterful job”, writing: “If you are expecting an action movie, or a comfortable ride, and you will be disappointed. Like many of director Doug Liman’s other movies, The Wall is built around a smart plot that plays out one detail at a time, keeping the viewer in suspense until the very end.”
The film has a 65% score on the site’s Tomatometer, which reflects the percentage of approved critics who have given it a positive review.
On the sites Popcornmeter, which relects general audience’s responses, the film is currently at just 42% in line with the contrasting reactions from viewers.