Dirty Angels

       Bad things happen in war, and the scars for the ones that survive can run deep and long. I, for one, don’t know how people can carry that burden, as it must be heavy, but maybe if I were in their shoes, I could. Martin Campbell’s new film Dirty Angels has such a person as a central character. She was a soldier who was the only survivor in her unit. Now, angry and resentful for what happened, she is given a chance to get payback.

Jake (Eva Green) and a group of soldiers are being held prisoner by a group led by Makil (Reza Brojerdi), who are planning to make an example of them. Before that can happen, a group of American soldiers sweeps in and manages to rescue Jake, but a disaster prevents them from saving anyone else. Back on the mainland, Jake feels responsible for those deaths, but she is given a chance to redeem herself. That chance comes after a school in Afghanistan is attacked, and the girls who inhabit it are taken captive by the same man who had captured Jake. So, with a group of women soldiers, who will go in disguised as nurses, Jake sets out to rescue those girls. Jake is joined by a team that includes Ruby Rose and Maria Bakalova. The team members go by cute nicknames like “The Bomb,” which conveniently fit what they each bring to the table. The group encounters some bumps in the road, which they manage to overcome, but not without losses. All of this sets up a climactic battle at the end, one that proves to be far more challenging than the team anticipated.

Written by Alissa Sullivan Haggis, Jonas McCord, Gene Quintano, and Martin Campbell (who also directs), Dirty Angelshas a script that leaves much to be desired. The writing is pretty lackluster. However, the film earns high marks for its sense of realism, especially in the way it depicts the Taliban and members of ISIS. The movie does nothing to dispel any stereotypes you might have about these groups. While the villains are portrayed convincingly, the characters we are meant to root for feel underwritten. Aside from their cool nicknames, there isn’t much to distinguish them. This lack of depth makes it harder to care about whether everyone survives, though the theme of girl power remains strong.

Dirty Angels claims to be an action movie, but the first action scene doesn’t occur until the one-hour mark. When it does, Campbell—a seasoned pro—stages the action sequences very well. However, the film feels like something you might have seen ten years ago, rather than fitting into today’s action movie landscape. The cast is fine, and Green, who leads the way, plays the action hero capably. However, her glum and grumpy character gets tiresome, though she does come to life in the final fifteen minutes. At least she has that going for her.

Dirty Angels doesn’t shy away from violence, and it can get pretty graphic. However, as you watch, you might find yourself asking, “Why so serious?” This film had potential, but its underwritten characters drag it down, leaving us with something that is ultimately below average.