MAN OF WAR

(director/writer: William Kaufman; screenwriter: Paul Reichelt; cinematographer: Mark Rutledge; editor: Sara Kaufman; music: John Roome; cast: LaMonica Garrett (Michael Connor), Andrew Howard (Dany, tour guide), Linds Edwards (Bunny, leader of a team of mercenaries), Jason Patric (Charlie Lewis), Daniel Bernhardt (Koniev), Rosmary Yaneva (Riley); Runtime: 110; MPAA Rating: R; producers: Andrew Lewis, Isaac Lewis, Yanko Ushatoy, Stanimir Stamatov; Denton Film; 2026-in English, Ukrainian, Russian)

“The action scenes look good.”

Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz
 
William Kaufman (“The Channel”/”Osiris”) directs and co-writes with Paul Reichelt a standard issue war tale about a colorful former Navy Seal and retired CIA agent Michael Connor (LaMonica Garrett) and his Ukrainian rescue mission of his kidnapped aid worker adopted niece Riley (Rosmary Yaneva), the daughter of a fallen Ukrainian comrade. He battles Russian mercenaries like the sadist criminal turned commando Koniev (Daniel Bernhardt), who kidnapped the niece. Connor’s former CIA handler Charlie Lewis (Jason Patric) arranges for Connor to go to the Ukraine accompanied by Brit private contractor operators. Connor also battles his inner demons, as he searches for Riley in the war zone.

The action-packed B-film comes to a chaotic final act, which should be pleasing to viewers who like familiar heroic war stories that are action-packed and require no thinking.

The film was shot in Bulgaria. The action scenes celebrating the warriors looked good but was hard to jive with the director’s anti-war feelings.

REVIEWED ON 7/8/2026  GRADE: B-
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