The Contractor (2022) | Film Review

Immediately from the jump, The Contractor illustrates that it is not going to be a run of the mill, “mission-gone-wrong” style thriller by its introduction to our lead character, James Harper. Portrayed by the multifaceted Chris Pine, Harper is a soldier with bills to pay, mouths to feed, constant knee pain, and his best years are sadly behind him. Still, he is a man of duty and honor, and he wishes to serve.

After his last deployment, it is clear to Harper that he can no longer provide that service to the United States Army Special Forces, and he is leery of venturing into the private sector. More money, absolutely, but little honor. Harper’s financial woes are reaching their apex and increasing stress between he and his wife, Brianne (Gillian Jacobs), when his former cohort, Mike (Ben Foster), brings him on board for his lucrative gig working as a private contractor for Rusty (Kiefer Sutherland). Honor doesn’t pay the bills, but a $50,000 retainer will, and Harper is back on a mission.

Their task is to surveil Salim Mohsin, a virologist with alleged ties to Al Qaeda. A raid is enacted, which promptly turns sideways, and before we know it, James Harper is on his own. He is on the run with a leg that demands medication to even function properly, his contacts are shady, and he is alone. With limited resources and no military backing, it’s on James to get back home safely. As well as find out if he has just been double crossed.

The intriguing aspect of J.P. Davis’ script is how determined it is to showcase the relatable side of private contractors. Most film depictions showcase these men and women as nothing more than shallow mercenaries with less than a care in the world about duty and pride. The Contractor seems to be more invested in how callously our system tosses these former heroes to the side, forcing them to take up a vocation they themselves have little respect for, simply to make ends meet.

Chris Pine’s take on James Harper is as layered as one would imagine from his previous work. Pine is an actor who can make the most questionable choices appear nuanced and necessary, and he embodies Harper with a relatable humanity throughout the film. James is a man desperate to provide for his family, as well as contribute to the greater good, and upholds his code above all things. Though the film has a few narrative struggles, it should be noted that Pine delivers in each and every scene on this promise of respecting the inner turmoil of Harper’s plight.

Likewise, Ben Foster (in a reunion of sorts from Hell or High Water), does the best he can as Mike, James’ former teammate who brings him into the fold. Foster’s character is much more inclined to take a job for the money, as his son has special needs and those bills are piling up even more than James’. Both characters are painted as more than the stereotypes we typically find in films of this ilk, and it is refreshing to see this other side of soldiers after the military casts them out.

As much as I personally adore Kiefer Sutherland, his role is extremely minor here, and it feels very “Sutherland”. What I mean is that there are certain films that Kiefer does (and Donald as well), where their character has so little to do, that he elicits that vibe of a guy you know you shouldn’t quite trust, and Rusty is one of those. His role deserved to be fleshed out to really sell the premise as a whole, though you can never go wrong with Kiefer Sutherland in your thriller.

The first hour and change of The Contractor is a solid foundation of what could have been an exceptional film. Director Tarik Saleh methodically escalates the tension as we build to Harper’s quest to return home alive. It is the final act where Davis’ script slowly casts aside these seeds of greatness for a rather mundane, generic conclusion where every successive beat is more predictable than the next. At times, it felt as though the filmmakers were unsure where to take Harper from here. The film still lands as an entertaining watch, and you cannot help but pine for Pine the entire time, but a missed opportunity was had here to elevate a potentially meaningful story we have otherwise seen countless times before.

The Contractor showcases Chris Pine yet again as one of our most engaging actors, and though his reunion with Ben Foster deserved something heartier, it remains an entertaining enough watch that will leave you feeling a level of empathy for private contractors you might not have had before.