Directed by:
Joseph KosinskiCinematography:
Claudio MirandaComposer:
Joseph TrapaneseCast:
Josh Brolin, Miles Teller, Jeff Bridges, Jennifer Connelly, James Badge Dale, Taylor Kitsch, Andie MacDowell, Geoff Stults, Alex Russell, Thad Luckinbill (more)VOD (3)
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Based on the true story of the Granite Mountain Hotshots, this is the story of one unit of local firefighters that through hope, determination, sacrifice, and the drive to protect families, communities, and our country become one of the most elite firefighting teams in the country. As most of us run from danger, they run toward it - they watch over our lives, our homes, everything we hold dear, as they forge a unique brotherhood that comes into focus with one fateful fire. (Sony Pictures)
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Reviews (8)
A directorially polished masterpiece, to which I won't give five stars just because it sets up the character of Teller in a very clichéd way and delivers his transformation in routinely and wide-eyedly (and is ultimately a bit unnecessary for the film). Otherwise it deserves them, because I've never seen such a superbly acted, narratively balanced and emotionally gripping disaster movie. First and foremost, it's a strong and believable drama about "parenthood and work", where nothing over the top happens and the characters grow on you just by their ordinary and natural behaviour – Kosinski shows his class not only when he's fighting fires, which in his performance is one of real respect and fear, but also on a personal level and subordinating it to an enormously effective conclusion that doesn't feel pathetic at all, and I dare say that if, like me, you don't know the real events, it's guaranteed to blow you away. Great soundtrack, gorgeous cinematography and effects, perfect Teller and Connely, awesome Brolin. One of the best films of 2017, Czech distributors should be ashamed. 85%
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A strong story, good characters, brilliantly acted by excellent actors, and on top of that, excellent work in the field, whether with fire or without it. This simply succeeded, in addition, the camera has some truly great shots that can both inspire and chill. Just like the finale of this firefighter movie.
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At this moment, there isn’t a more topical movie than Only the Brave. While endless fires are ravaging California that leave dead people and scorched land in their wake, a film premiered here about people who are trying to preserve at least a part of untouched countryside. It’s quite unbelievable for a Czech viewer, but within American patriotism, this is the best-made, and essentially, catastrophic movie in a long time.
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Kosinski is a visual magician. Technically perfect image composition this time rides on a true story about firefighters. The great casting is enhanced further by the acting performances. Brolin is literally a prototype for a good guy. Jennifer Connelly is wonderful once again. We even find recruitment speeches and some mean joking. Music for guys, a homage to family obligations and lessons for young junkies. All of the minor imperfections are forgotten after the powerful finale. The real finale. That burning bear was the most beautiful and at the same time horrible thing I have ever seen.
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Fight Fire With Fire. This is how homage to genuine heroes should be paid. It should not be done in a way that you exaggerate actions and turn them into unrealistic divine interventions from above, not by depriving their qualities of even a hint of character defects, not so that there is no room for anything else for pathos, waving flags and soaring speeches. On the contrary, you devote most of the footage to the characters, the relationships between them and their shortcomings and flaws; showing their everyday struggle. The result is that as they are written (and played!) in a way that you care for them and in the final (literally) inferno you can immediately afford to dilute an otherwise nice realistic approach to this topic with a hidden bit of pathos and ... And it will work for you, because it suddenly has an unusually sincere emotional impact (despite the fact that you know from the beginning where it is all going) like no other catastrophic movie in ages. Not to mention the overall direction. Although we could have expected a well-thought-out and impressive audiovisual (majestic fires have a purely hypnotic dimension) from Kosinský, this time a script was added, which managed to elevate the seemingly clear, cheaply celebrating genre movie into a true, slow-building drama based on the characters. You will get into it. Which, despite the delicate topics, is not typical for a similar type of movie. PS: If you get interested in it, I will recommend watching the documentary miniseries Fire Chasers.
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