Act of Valor

The idea for this true-to-life action-adventure emanated from Navy brass, who gave former stuntmen-turned-producers/directors Mike McCoy and Scott Waugh unprecedented access to the world of the SEALs in order to show the public how the secretive commando forces work and also detail the sacrifices they make to combat global terrorism. Rather than audition actors, McCoy and Waugh recruited eight anonymous real-life SEALs whom they felt represented a cross-section of the corps, while screenwriter Kurt Johnstad created a generic plotline in which the team would rescue a captured/tortured CIA operative (Roselyn Sanchez) and stop Chechen suicide bombers from obliterating American cities. Because the SEALs were on active duty during filming, many of the action scenes served as part of their training regimen and the Navy reserved the right to make any cuts for reasons of security. No Hollywood studio was interested initially, forcing McCoy and Waugh to raise the budgeted $20 million themselves. With serendipitous timing, however, just as filming concluded, the SEAL Team 6 that killed Osama bin Laden became internationally acclaimed heroes and Relativity Media immediately snapped up the rights. Lacking any real structure or character development, the focus in Act of Valor rests entirely on violent, chaotic combat sequences, but it's never clear whether we're watching recruitment propaganda or a ponderous quasi-documentary. Optional. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include audio commentary by filmmakers Mike “Mouse” McCoy and Scott Waugh, and deleted scenes (10 min.). Exclusive to the Blu-ray release are a directors intro (3 min.), interviews with active duty Navy SEALs (30 min.), a “making-of” featurette (6 min.), behind-the-scenes segments on "Real Bullets" (3 min.), "Real SEALs" (3 min.), and "Silent Warriors" (3 min.), the "For You" music video by Keith Urban, with a “making-of” featurette on the video (4 min.), and bonus DVD and digital copies of the film. Bottom line: a solid extras package for a so-so film.] (S. Granger)