Inspiring, breathtaking as much as it is the heartbreaking true story of Granite Mountain Hotshots, an elite team of bush fire fighters specialising in the prevention of the spreading or inflammation of further burning into towns or properties.
Josh Brolin simply gets better as the years roll by, as Chief Eric Marsh he demonstrates that authority of team control and gruff acting perfection. Taking on recruit Brendan McDonough (Miles Teller) a young man with personal substance history and a newborn he never sees, Eric forms a bond with the new guy while also sharing a secret.
Risking their lives to protect others embodies these understated heroes, standing up facing flames of death does not deter their strive to do anything they can which makes for some truly incredible scenes.
Family issues and individual circumstances within the group are played out with emotion, honesty without overdoing the sentimentality until necessary. There is no reason not to any film featuring one of modern Hollywood’s current living legends Jeff Bridges, the fact he sings a tune in a celebration bar scene a bonus.
Fast rising Australian talent Alex Russell (Chronicle, Jungle) is almost unrecognisable with moustache fleetingly appears throughout, with one particularly memorable moment.
Backdraft (1991) still impresses me, as does, The Towering Inferno (1974) a duo of ‘fire’ movies that stand the test of time in my eyes.
Actually based on a GQ magazine article the screenplay adapted holds attention shedding light on this dedicated bunch and what they achieved. The build up to the final stanza concerning the Yarnell Hill Fire of June 2013 is interesting with eventual emotional heights that may cause shock, especially if your unaware of the outcome such as i was. Despite being a touch overlong it’s a terrific film worth seeing.
Only the Brave, completely appropriate title for a survival tale of the human spirit, acted above average and directed by Joseph Kosinski (Oblivion) who if you believe rumours is a frontrunner to make, Top Gun 2 Maverick.
Shane A.Bassett | Movie Analyst
Biography, Drama | USA, 2017 | 12A | Out Now | Lionsgate Films | Dir.Joseph Kosinski |Josh Brolin, Taylor Kitsch, Jennifer Connelly, Miles Teller, Alex Russell, Jeff Bridges, Andie MacDowell