So, “12 Strong: The Declassified True Story Of The Horse Soldiers” (my god, that title) is now billing itself as “The true story of the first victory in the war on terror.” Honestly, I’m not sure I’m ready to process of all that, but nonetheless, flag waving marketing probably finds an audience.
Chris Hemsworth, Michael Shannon, Michael Peña, Trevante Rhodes, Geoff Stults, Thad Luckinbill, Austin Stowell, Ben O’Toole, Austin Hebert, Kenneth Miller, Kenny Sheard, Jack Kesy, Navid Negahban, Laith Nakli, Fahim Fazli, Numan Acar, Elsa Pataky, William Fichtner and Rob Riggle, the war drama follows a U.S. Special Forces team who use the rudimentary tactics of the Afghan horse soldiers in their fight against the Taliban and their Al Qaeda allies. Here’s the official synopsis:
“12 Strong” is set in the harrowing days following 9/11 when a U.S. Special Forces team, led by their new Captain, Mitch Nelson (Hemsworth), is chosen to be the first U.S. troops sent into Afghanistan for an extremely dangerous mission. There, in the rugged mountains, they must convince Northern Alliance General Dostum (Navid Negahban) to join forces with them to fight their common adversary: the Taliban and their Al Qaeda allies. In addition to overcoming mutual distrust and a vast cultural divide, the Americans—accustomed to state-of-the-art warfare—must adopt the rudimentary tactics of the Afghan horse soldiers. But despite their uneasy bond, the new allies face overwhelming odds: outnumbered and outgunned by a ruthless enemy that does not take prisoners.
Directed by Nicolai Fuglsig, “12 Strong: The Declassified True Story Of The Horse Soldiers” opens on January 19, 2018.