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Only the Brave (2017), PG-13, ★★★1/2


Firefighting is a dangerous and scary business to focus and fight a fire that will make communities safer and protect other people. They do not run away from their business, they face their business as flames are in front of them. It is combat between a human being and the worst creature that threatens nature. This movie highlights a true story that is worth telling and never takes the approach of being so conventional by producing the fire sequences as entertainment but horror. This is a movie that showcases fire but is anchored by a tribute to the brave firefighters, both local and national.

The movie introduces the Granite Mountain Hotshots as they evolve from being trained to be a tightly-knit group of firefighters combatting fires and also their other personal lives, but the movie focuses on two firefighters. Eric Marsh (Josh Brolin) is a team leader who had a past of battling alcohol addiction, however, fighting fires is basically therapeutic for him as he is focused. He also struggles with being with his wife, Amanda (Jennifer Connelly), a woman who has a passion for horses but misses her husband as he is away on assignments.

Brendan McDonough (Miles Teller) has had a terrible past as he was also a drug junkie in his past. But, he is on a path to redemption as he learns that his girlfriend is pregnant and wants to be a father to the baby. We also witness the formation of their brotherhood of the supporting firefighters (James Badge Dale, Taylor Kitsch, Geoff Stults among others) as they banter and discuss their personal lives in their own way and the path to its conclusion becomes episodic.


Unlike the 1991 movie, Backdraft (which is a great technical achievement), the movie focuses more on the characters than on the actions and the fires themselves and I start to feel more empathy towards them especially the main characters and their wives. This pacing makes it more slow-burned first then approaches to erraticism because we get a point of view of how they are fighting the fires. It's not calculated. You can train for them but the fires are unpredictable forces of nature. You never know what may happen once inside the area where the fires are surrounding you. I thought the strong performance from the bunch was Josh Brolin who is restrained but fair with his character as he interacts with both Connelly then with his crew. Miles Teller actually gives a good performance in finally a good movie since Whiplash. But, his arc is executed with familiarity.

I have not been a big fan of director Joseph Kosinski's work even though I appreciate his technical achievements such as Oblivion and TRON: Legacy. Here, the narrative works even thought the dialogue is stilted in some areas that needed more improvisation or realism. But, the characters felt real as they combat magnificent and seamless visuals of fire. Even though I am not giving away what happens (you can look it up), the finale is devastating and can definitely reach an emotional care and have you admire the brave men and women combatting troubles that citizens will avoid. Only the Brave is truly crafted well in its narrative structure and natural "action" that it leaves you impressed and devastated. I'm surprised of how much I liked this movie.

***1/2


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