Action spectacle is often expected to go big, but the new Netflix film “War Machine” aims to balance explosive action with something more personal. ABC4 Film Critic and Celebrity Interviewer Patrick Beatty spoke with director Patrick Hughes and star Alan Ritchson to discuss the emotional core of the story beneath the giant robots and survival chaos.
Patrick B. I think there is a lot of grounded realism here that I was not expecting when I first pressed play. Patrick, when you are telling a story like this with so many moments that could easily go off the rails or feel unrealistic, what do you do as a director to rein that in and keep it grounded?
Patrick Hughes: For me, it was always about the through line of the hero, the character of 81, and the inner journey he goes through. That was my compass the whole time. That was the sign pointing north.
There were definitely absurd moments on set. I remember it was about two in the morning, and we were in this giant mine with these massive walls of fire shooting up everywhere. I turned to Alan and said, ” What are we doing?” We are literally two grown adults fighting a giant pretend robot. What is going on?
There were moments where we almost lost it ourselves. But what helped keep everything grounded was making sure the film lived in real-world environments. We shot in real locations as much as possible. As much as it is an action science fiction film, it is also a survival film. There is something very haunting about the survival genre. That feeling of isolation always appealed to me, and I think all of those elements together helped keep the story rooted.
Patrick B. Alan, you have become pretty synonymous with physical authority on screen. You might even be my hope for the next Batman. But here I think we also see a lot of vulnerability in your character. What stood out to you in the script that made you want to join Patrick on this?
Alan Ritchson: For me, it was the heart. This movie has a real heartbeat from page one.
It was pitched to me as an action film, but when I started reading it I realized it was almost a tearjerker right away. That is the kind of movie I want to make. It is a human journey that we can all relate to. There is suffering, there is adventure, and there is a lot of fun in the experience.
Patrick mentioned those moments on set where we would stop and realize what we were doing. It really felt like we were living out childhood fantasies. It was like playing with G.I. Joe toys and monsters. It was incredibly fun.
But at the center of all of it was the soul of the story. The film really has a heart, and that was something I could not pass up.
Patrick B. What was the biggest challenge for you on set? Obviously, you are playing in a pretty wild sandbox, but was the bigger challenge the vulnerability or the physical side of the role?
Alan Ritchson: That is a great question. Honestly, both come with their own challenges.
For this one though, I would probably give the crown to the physical side. There were several moments during this movie where I honestly did not know how I was going to keep going. I was completely beaten down. My body was dealing with a lot of issues and it really took a toll.
But there was no way to tell this story without going through that. It was necessary for the character and the journey he is on. In a lot of ways I felt what 81 was going through physically. So the biggest challenge was really just pushing through and getting to the end of it.
“War Machine” may deliver the kind of explosive action audiences expect from a large-scale science fiction adventure, but Hughes and Ritchson clearly see it as something more personal. Beneath the spectacle is a story about endurance, survival, and the emotional cost of pushing forward when everything seems impossible. For Ritchson especially, the role demanded both physical punishment and emotional honesty, making the journey of 81 feel as human as it is heroic.
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