Only the Brave

Only the Brave

Starring Josh Brolin, Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly, Jeff Bridges

Directed by Joseph Kosinski

The Story:
Eric Marsh (Josh Brolin) is the head boss of a team of Arizona firefighters who are seeking to be credentialed to be Hotshots, an elite crew that's able to go into the heart of wildfires and put them out from the inside.  Until then, they have to wait on the peripheral, putting out fires from a distance.  Thanks to division chief Duane Steinbrink (Jeff Bridges), they get their chance to prove their worth, after taking in former bad boy Brendan McDonough (Miles Teller), who wishes to clean up his act after becoming a father.

The crew is certified and becomes the Granite Mountain Hotshots, and they become the local heroes after they prevent a fire from destroying a beloved tree that's been growing for decades.  We see how being a part of an elite firefighting team affects family life, as Brendan struggles to be the father he never had, while also having to work a lot of the time, and fears he'll become an absent father.  Meanwhile, the strain of work tests Eric's relationship with his long-suffering wife Amanda (Jennifer Connelly), who thinks Eric is more in love with fires than her.  All that comes to a head when the team battles the Yarnell Hill Fire, resulting in an event that reverberates throughout their town to this day.

The Synopsis:
"Only the Brave" is the true story of the Granite Mountain Hotshots, a firefighting team that made public notice after battling a historic fire in Yarnell, Arizona.  If you've never heard of them, this film will let you see them as the heroes they were, filled with moving, powerful performances and impressive effects that really showcases the dangers they faced everyday.

It's an interesting film in that I didn't really know any of their names, but their lives left such an impact on screen that it moved me at the end.  They were portrayed like family members, and not in a way that was exploitative or manipulative, but rather in a natural way that made an even bigger impact.  It led to an emotional climax that served as a gut-punch to the stomach and served as an impressive way to show what true heroes are.

While there was a lot of men on the squad, the film only really centers on Eric Marsh and Brendan McDonough, but does enough to tell the stories of the other men.  We see them as family men, with hopes and dreams, future plans and families who love and support them.  It can't be easy for the family members of firefighters - as well as police officers, soldiers, and any other profession that leads people in harms' way - and "Only the Brave" showcases those struggles.  Eric Marsh has a wanderlust for fighting fires, which puts a strain on his marriage, because his wife feels that she's second to his profession.  Brendan was a drug-addicted loser until he knocked up his ex-girlfriend, and changes his life around to become the man his father never was, but he also struggles with being there for his daughter.  He's gone for days at a time, and when he comes back home, his daughter doesn't even seem to know him, which tugs at his heart as he struggles with wanting to stay with the team, but also wanting to be a father.

There's smaller stories with some of the other men on the team.  Eric's second-in-command, Jesse Steed, is a father of two young children.  Christopher MacKenzie and Brendan butt heads early on, but soon become best friends and even live together, with a humorous scene involving Brendan, his child, and a sickness to which they have no clue how to help with.  The relationship between Christopher and Brendan is important to the story because it shows that the Hotshots were more than just co-workers, but they were family.  It was a strong comradere, something they needed in order to work together.

The film's heart relies on the quote on the poster: "It's not what stands in front of you, it's who stands beside you."  This applies both for the men who work together to save towns from raging fires, but also for the families of these men, and it's a smartly written script that showcases this duel meaning.

Josh Brolin holds the film together as Eric Marsh, who commands both the men and the screen.  He's gruff and no-nonsense, but also emotional and passionate about his job.  Jennifer Connelly gives a strong, stern performance as Amanda, who's just as gruff as Eric and works well off Brolin.  Jeff Bridges gives another rousing performance, especially in the scene where he receives bad news and the emotion that comes out of him is amazing.  Miles Teller plays Brendan well, showcasing his struggles and desires to overcome his jaded past and be the man for his daughter that he wants to be.  There's no terrible performances here, but also none that were stellar - you won't find any of these actors nominated for an Oscar for their performances, but they still perform aptly.

The Summary:
Blending an emotional true story with tremendous acting and heart-pounding effects, "Only the Brave" serves as a moving film about real life heroes and the struggles they faced living every day.

The Score: A