Guy Ritchie is eager to work, and he’s ready to graduate to a possessory credit. His fifth movie in four years, and his second offering of 2023, “Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant” seeks to disrupt the helmer’s love of criminal shenanigans and “toff guy” entertainment, sobering up with this examination of extreme bravery during the latter years of the Afghanistan war. Slickness and cynicism are left behind, with “The Covenant” trying to nail a more aggressive tone of threat, going into the heart of Taliban country to study an unusual relationship between two men who eventually trade acts of heroism. Suspense is big here, with Ritchie blending wartime pressure points with explosive moments of frustration, backed by a production team that’s dedicated to making a propulsive viewing experience. Ritchie gets most of it right, capturing fear and guiding exceptional performances, with stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Dar Salim securing optimal intensity for this violent odyssey. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com