Only The Brave

This review may contain spoilers!

This film is led strongly by a brilliant leading cast who present a charged and moving emotional film. I would give Only The Brave an 8/10.

This is a film about the bond between people in a very dangerous yet rewarding profession, the Granite Mountain Hotshots aren't merely a band of brothers, they are a family in every way that counts. I like how the film doesn't show these strong connections very clearly at first, choosing instead to slowly present the bonds formed in a way that feels natural and makes you like each of the characters for different reasons. The characters of Eric and Brendan have a great mentor/mentee relationship and you can see the challenges each has faced as a recovering drug addict emerging throughout the film. Furthermore, the strain of being in a relationship with a man who seems more dedicated to placing himself into dangerous situations is presented in a very compelling subplot involving the character of Amanda. The Yarnell Hill Fire is a real horror to watch onscreen, it's a very powerful moment of death where characters you have come to care for are snatched up in what is a very tough long sequence to watch but what also makes the film so compelling. The cinematography of the film looks really nice, often taking advantage of the expansive settings that the feature takes place in; the film clearly knows exactly where to capture a powerful moment and convey this to the audience. The score for the film is undoubtedly very powerful and moving often lending a bit of reflection after an exciting or tense moment, yet it is the soundtrack in the film which really grounds the setting and tone of many scenes, with Jeff Bridges singing "(Ghost) Rider in the Sky" being one of the more memorable moments for me.

Miles Teller, who played Brendan McDonough, presents a very vulnerable role who is looking for redemption quite well; Teller crafts a character who is humbled in the eyes of the audience and has a great bond with the rest of the cast. Jeff Bridges, who played Duane Steinbrink, is a very gruff figure at first but is quite clearly the heart of the film; Bridges builds a character who is almost the pillar of support for the other major cast of characters. Jennifer Connelly, who played Amanda Marsh, develops quite a frustrated female protagonist who is not satisfied with the current state of her life; the very real yet emotional strain developed between herself and Brolin is very powerful to watch. James Badge Dale, who played Jesse Steed, is very clearly a charismatic leader within the film; Dale has a tough outlook upon moments of action within the film and guides the cast in a way that complements Brolin's role well. Taylor Kitsch, who played Christopher Mackenzie, is very convincing as the rude, crude and blunt character when first we meet him; yet Kitsch does a great job at developing his role's relationship to other and turning what was once rude dialogue to a more charismatic and entertaining sense of humour.

However, the best performance came from Josh Brolin, who played Eric Marsh. Brolin presents Marsh as quite a stoic individual who struggles to outwardly express how he feels emotionally, yet this is a subtle struggle Brolin performs incredibly well. The real sense of dedication, camaraderie and care that roots this figure as a true leader in the eyes of the Granite Mountain Hotrods emerges very strongly as an aspect of this performance. Brolin knows how to balance the careful chemistry he forms with several of the cast members to know when to allow others to take centre-stage and when to make a strong emotional impact from the relationships he has formed. Brolin also does a great job of showing the more erratic side of Marsh, sudden outbursts and changes in demeanour make this a fascinating display of acting.

This is a film that suffers strongly from poor pacing, often moving between a very heated and tense moment to a point with very little energy; this had the unfortunate effect of making it feel as if the feature had very little story to tell. The editing of the film didn't aid matters much in this area, with the cutting used throughout favouring a slow and gradual style.

Ben Hardy, who played Wade Parker, is quite the contrast to Teller's role and could have been used to great effect given more screen time; sadly Hardy isn't really developed much more after his introduction which disappoints greatly. Natalie Hall, who played Natalie Johnson, is intriguing as the jilted ex-girlfriend of Teller's role but is only given a stereotypical mould to work with; Hall doesn't go to great lengths to push the boundaries with her character and plays the role in a way that isn't exactly unique. Forrest Fyre, who played Mayor Worthington, is certainly a quirky character but doesn't add much else to the plot; Fyre is used so often for comedic effect that you don't really believe him when he tries to act in a serious manner.