A very good script guides this action drama in a heart pounding story of a love of a brother that gets unduly convicted of a crime. The acting is superb and the direction on point ranking the entertainment value very high. Semper Fi‘s the kind of film you’ll talk about the evening after you leave the theater. For the ladies the film does have a romantic thread and if you’re single the actors should keep you awake throughout.
Chris Callahan (Jai Courtney) has been raising his brother Teddy “Oyster” (Nat Wolff) alone since he was a teenager following the death of their mother. Wild and uncontrollable at times Teddy gets into a fight with Ben (Perry Hawxhurst) over a girl in a bar and he’s charged with murder when the guy accidentally dies. Just before the incident Chris was called into service and is away during the trial where Teddy receives a 25 year sentence. When he returns and finds out about the bogus trial, things start to get heated between Chris and the law.
Director and co-screenwriter Henry Alex Rubin does a terrific job of working in his characters and allowing the audience get acquainted with the various relationships Chris has among his close friends Jaeger (Finn Wittrock), Milk (Beau Knapp), and Snowball (Arturo Castro). Keeping the story interesting and showing Chris’ leadership in the military reserves as well as a cop in his home town, the blend of friendship with courage is inspirational.
The acting by both Jai Courtney and Nat Wolff as the two brothers is very good. Showing the disdain between them due to a previous incident in their lives, their confrontations with living together and the unexpected turn of events makes the movie compelling. The chemistry exhibited by the two actors showing the conflicts between them over something in their past, corroborates the realistic cold attitude within Teddy and a hurt that Chris has had to carry around with him all those years.
Semper Fi which means “always faithful” has been rated R by the MPAA for pervasive language, some violence and disturbing images.
FINAL ANALYSIS: A very good film with heart. (4 out of 5 Stars)
Additional Film Information:
Cast: Jai Courtney, Nat Wolff, Finn Wittrock, Beau Knapp, Arturo Castro, Leighton Meester
Directed and co-written by: Henry Alex Rubin
Genre: Action, Drama
MPAA Rating: R for pervasive language, some violence and disturbing images
Running Time: 1 hr. 40 min.
Opening Date: October 4, 2019
Distributed by: RJLE Films
Released in: Theater
Writer, critic, film editor John Delia, Sr. has been on all sides of the movie business from publications to film making. He has worked as a film critic with ACED Magazine for more than 20 years and other publications for a total of 40 years. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Florida. John is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association and Critics Association of Central Florida Send John a message at jdelia@acedmagazine.com
