Devotion
Starring Jonathan Majors, Glen Powell, Christina Jackson, Joe Jonas
Directed by J.D. Dillard
Ensign Jesse Brown (Jonathan Majors) is the first African American man to fly for the U.S. Navy, and he's not blind to the racism that's going on around him - but fortunately for him those he flies with don't seem to care or notice his color, especially Lieutenant Tom Hudner (Glen Powell), who serves as his wingman in the air and on the ground. Despite his own apprehensions for the task, Jesse remains steadfast in his duty and participates in numerous missions that help aid America's ally from preventing North Korea to take over the entire peninsula.
"Devotion" is intriguing in that it focuses on racism without being too blatant about it, and instead of centering on the traditional tropes of stories like these where you see the African American person coming under attack both verbally and physically, the scares are already there for Jesse Brown without us seeing them. You see through his appearance, his eyes, and his mannerisms that he's gone through the ringer to get to where he's at, and this is in a sense his pure solution: he's made it to this point in his life, and although he still suffers the trauma getting there, he knows he's made it there on his own merits.
Jonathan Majors is becoming a strong driving force in cinema as of late, and his performance here proves why he's one of the most sought-after actors of this generation. He gives Brown a multi-layered feeling as he's equal parts assured and confident as well as demeaning to himself. When Tom Hudner first appears on screen in the locker room, he hears racist slurs being hurled offscreen, and discovers that it's not a group of white men attacking Brown, but Brown attacking himself. This is one of several moments where we see him doing this, and in one powerful scene we witness him talking down to himself as he stares unblinking into the camera - and yet we see him in the air, fully assured of his ability, and even taking down an enemy bridge in the midst of an intense dogfight.
Glen Powell is no stranger to aerial films, as he just appeared in one of the biggest blockbusters of all time - "Top Gun: Maverick" - and so it's only natural he appears here as well as Brown's friend Tom Hudner. More than his "Maverick" character, however, Tom is a nice, caring, helpful person who forms an "Odd Couple" like friendship with Brown - while he's calm and friendly, Brown is intense, reclusive, and no-nonsense. Opposites attract, even in friendships, and this friendship is one for the ages - a true story based in reality that's equal parts heartwarming and uplifting.
Speaking of "Maverick," the dogfights in the film seem very mirrored to the blockbuster, with the camera inside the cockpit along with the pilot as you see them flying, which adds an intensity that's not seen in other films like this. The fighting is intense and exciting, with a strong musical score to accompany what's happening on screen, adding a sense of excitement to the biopic that helps drive the point home. "Devotion" doesn't rely on the old tropes of racism films, but rather celebrates Jesse Brown as his own individual, a man who didn't need a white savior to come to his aid, but instead had a true blue friend that stood by his side through it all.
The Score: A
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