The Outpost

About The Outpost

The Outpost is a 2020 American war film directed by Rod Lurie, based on the 2012 non-fiction book "The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor" by Jake Tapper. The plot revolves around the Battle of Kamdesh during the Afghanistan War. It depicts the story of 53 U.S soldiers stationed at Combat Outpost Keating, who battled some 400 enemy insurgents in northeastern Afghanistan at the base of three steep mountains.

Making / Production

The movie required meticulous planning and extensive research given it's based on a real incident. Director Rod Lurie and team stayed honest to the events and the characters as they unfolded during the war. The ensemble cast, gruelling shooting schedule and filming in the harsh terrains polished the, already high, production value of the movie.

Actors

• Scott Eastwood as Staff Sergeant Clint Romesha: He delivered a sharp and realistic portrayal of the war hero.
• Caleb Landry Jones as Specialist Ty Carter: Jones's performance was emotionally intense, projecting Carter's fear and courage effectively.
• Orlando Bloom as 1st Lieutenant Benjamin D. Keating: His skillful acting laid bare the virtues and complexities of an Army officer.
• Jack Kesy as Sergeant Christopher 'Soup' MacKenzie: Kesy provided a memorable performance as the brave and dedicated soldier.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The film is based on real events documented in Jake Tapper's book.
• Scott Eastwood is the son of legendary actor Clint Eastwood.
• The real-life Staff Sergeant Clint Romesha and Specialist Ty Carter, were awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions during the Battle of Kamdesh.

Awards

The film, while appreciated by the audience and critics, did not win any major film awards. However, Caleb Landry Jones' performance was praised and he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the British Academy Film Awards.

Quotes

• "Everybody up the mountains are our enemies, and everybody down the mountains are our friends."
• "Welcome to the dark side of the moon, gentlemen."
• "If we don't take that bitch of a hill back... we're going to be fighting this slope for the rest of the fucking day."

Music, Soundtrack

• The original score for the film was composed by Larry Groupe. His music was very appreciated for adding depth and heightening the emotions in the critical scenes throughout the film.