ONLY THE BRAVE (2017) - Movie Review

Director: Joseph Kosinski
Starring: Josh Brolin, James Badge Dale, Jeff Bridges, Miles Teller, Alex Russell, Taylor Kitsch, Ben Hardy, Thad Luckinbill, Geoff Stults, Scott Haze, Andie MacDowell, Jennifer Connelly
Genre: Drama, Biography, Action
Writer: Eric Warren Singer, Ken Nolan
Runtime: 133 min
Rated: PG-13 for thematic content, some sexual references, language and drug material
Buy This Movie: Blu-ray (Amazon), DVD (Amazon), Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV

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Synopsis:

Only the Brave, based on the true story of the Granite Mountain Hotshots, is the heroic story of a team of local firefighters who - through hope, determination and sacrifice - become one of the most elite firefighting teams in the nation. Starring Josh Brolin, Miles Teller, Taylor Kitsch, Jeff Bridges, James Badge Dale and Jennifer Connelly, the firefighters forge a unique brotherhood that comes into focus as they fight a fateful fire to protect our lives, our homes and everything we hold dear.

Review:

There have been plenty of firefighter movies, but as far as I know, not a lot dealing with the heroes who battle wildfires. I can only remember two, Steven Spielberg's 1989 fantasy drama "Always", and the 1998 B-movie action thriller "Firestorm". Well, 2017's biographical drama "Only the Brave" fills that gap nicely with a devastating true story.

Directed by "Top Gun: Maverick" helmer Joseph Kosinski from a script by Eric Warren Singer ("American Hustle") and Ken Nolan ("Black Hawk Down"), the film tells the story of the elite Fire and Rescue Crew 7 from Prescott, Arizona, their ascension to becoming the Granite Mountain Hotshots, and ultimately, their tragic fate. This is not an adrenaline-fueled thrill ride, so don't expect the forest fire equivalent of "Backdraft". It's a respectful, grounded and emotional portrayal of a group of real-life heroes who were willing to put themselves in harm's way to protect their their peers, families and communities.

Although mostly known for action and CGI-heavy movies like "Tron: Legacy" and "Oblivion", Kosinski proves himself equally skilled at handling heavy drama. With the help of a perfect ensemble cast led by gripping performances from Josh Brolin and Miles Teller, the director efficiently balances the character-driven moments with the intense firefighting sequences, and succeeds in making us care for these people, so the film's final moments are even more devastating. On the non-firefighter side of things, Jennifer Connelly offers a powerful and emotionally stirring performance.

Kosinski has already established himself as a powerful visual director, so as expected, the movie looks great, capturing the intensity of fighting wildfires with epic cinematography by Claudio Miranda. Some bits of CGI here and there are a bit unconvincing, but for the most part the fire sequences are well staged. It's all the more impressive considering it was made for only $38 million.

Despite a few cliches here and there, the film is a powerful and captivating biopic with a solid sense of authenticity and a gut-wrenching story to tell. It's a shame the movie was a box-office bomb and has probably been forgotten, because it really deserves a broader audience.

SCORE: 8/10