Review: Only The Brave Is Part Disaster Movie, Part War Movie
- Dec 2, 2017
- 2 min read
Fire is a strange thing. It is both the cradle of civilization and one of the most destructive forces known to man. When have have it under control it keeps us safe, keeps us fed. But control is a fickle thing, and when we lose it, things fall apart very quickly.
The Granite Mountain Hotshots, led by Eric Marsh (Josh Brolin) are the Seal Team 6 of firefighters. Their job, to hold back vicious wildfires by clearing brush, often times within a few hundred metres of an oncoming blaze. It isn't an easy job, but someone has to do it.
Only The Brave is an interesting film. On one hand it's a disaster movie, juggling the usual balance of manly men a violent force of nature. On the other it's a war film, albeit one where the enemy isn't another person, but the weather, the vegetation and the raging fire. As the Hotshots move about, making plans, establishing fallback points and retreat paths, it feels very much like a battle, as does the "combat". There's very little in the way of water, more so digging trenches and executing controlled burns. But it's shot and acted with the same intensity as one might expect from Saving Private Ryan or Hacksaw Ridge.
And it really is the acting that pulls this movie over the line. Brolin's performance is easily Oscar worthy, with Jeff Bridges and Miles Teller giving great performances in their own right. And as far as retellings of real events go, it manages to keep the viewer on edge for its entire runtime, something that true story films often struggle to do. Only The Brave is also hauntingly gorgeous, featuring what is arguably the best cinematic depiction of fire. Shrubland is rapidly turned into inferno, intense and wild, followed by a haunting aftermath of ashen trees and burnt earth.
Only The Brave is a fine film by anyone's judgement, one made all the better for the story it tells. The main cast is stellar, the directing is spot on and the visuals are top notch. This one's definitely worth your time.
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