Bob Keller, former US Army Special Forces and Delta Force operator, rates 10 Army special operations scenes in movies and TV, such as “Black Hawk Down,” for realism.
Keller breaks down the accuracy of special operations scenes, such as the depiction of the first Special Forces team in Afghanistan — nicknamed “Horse Soldiers” — in “12 Strong,” starring Chris Hemsworth; the Delta Force mission to capture high-value targets in “Black Hawk Down,” with Josh Hartnett, Ewan McGregor, Eric Bana, and Tom Sizemore; and the collaboration of Delta Force operators with law enforcement, as well as the accuracy of tactics and weapons handling, in “Sicario,” with Emily Blunt and Benicio del Toro. He discusses the depiction of Special Forces soldiers in Vietnam War movies in “Apocalypse Now,” with Marlon Brando and Martin Sheen; the unconventional warfare strategies that Rambo, played by Sylvester Stallone, demonstrates in “First Blood”; and the nighttime raid scene from “The Green Berets,” starring John Wayne. Keller also breaks down Delta Force operations and skills, as depicted in the hostage rescue scenes in “White House Down,” starring Channing Tatum and Jamie Foxx; and “Land of Bad,” starring Liam Hemsworth and Russell Crowe; the close-quarter combat and motorcycle riding skills demonstrated by Chuck Norris in “The Delta Force”; and the selection process in “The Unit” S1E1 + S2E8 (2008).
Keller has more than 20 years of experience in US Army special operations. He started with the 75th Ranger Regiment, then moved into Special Forces — nicknamed the Green Berets — and later was selected to be a part of the 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment— Delta (Airborne) — also known as Delta Force. He provides tactics instruction across the country through his company Gamut Resolutions, and he owns Range Werx, a shooting range in Fort Meade, Florida.