Director: John Stockwell
Starring: Cam Gigandet, Freddy Rodriguez, Xzibit, Anson Mount, Eddie Kaye Thomas, William Fichtner, Kathleen Robertson
Running Time: 96 minutes
Certificate: 15
Extras: Making Of
With ZERO DARK THIRTY soon to hit cinemas it seems only correct a lesser known, casted and directed movie covering the same story be released. TV movie CODE NAME: GERONIMO looks at each aspect of the American killing of Osama Bin Laden; the CIA directive pushed by a feisty operative Vivian (Robertson), the predisposed Navy Seals infighting and the kind of patriotism the Americans thrive on. But when your Navy Seal Team 6 consist of Freddy Rodriguez, Xzibit and Cam Gigandet it’s understandable to be apprehensive. Each are likeable but impossible to take seriously as Seals and here lies CODE NAME: GERONIMO’s problem, it doesn’t ring true. The Seals team, the CIA set up, and the lack of tension mean it plods along to its already known finale with as much flair as skinny jeans. The cast do there utmost to keep us interested: William Fichtner is ever likeable, Kathleen Robertson acts as if her life depends on it, and the majority of the Seals illicit some sympathy – particularly when they phone home before the mission. Sadly this experience is rare, the real issue comes from a lack of focus; we aren’t sure whether to concentrate on the team about to risk their lives or the almost punitive squabbling between Vivian and Christian (Kaye Thomas) at CIA HQ; neither is given the correct intensity, level of care or time to relate. In short it’s a mess.
The length of CODE NAME: GERONIMO does little to help those involved: the 96 minute length means scenes are cut short as they begin to interest and the ending is so horribly rushed it’s effect is negligible, and inexcusably the killing the most wanted man in the world is reduced to a footnote. Sometimes, more is more and CODE NAME: GERONIMO needs more of everything.
CODE NAME: GERONIMO is released on DVD & Blu-Ray December 24th.
