Director Joseph Kosinski
Genre Biography | Drama
Cast Josh Brolin, Miles Teller, Jeff Bridges, Jennifer Connelly
Rating PG-13
Release Date October 20th, 2017
“A drama based on the elite crew of firemen from Prescott, Arizona who battled a wildfire in Yarnell, AZ in June 2013, claiming the lives of 19 of their members.”
Only the Brave tells the true story of the Granite Mountain Hot Shots, an elite group of firefighters from Prescott, Arizona and the first ever municipal group of firefighters to become Hot Shots. Hot Shots are the firefighters who are sent to face the fires head on and are considered to be the best of the best. The film honors the memory of the 19 out of 20 men who lost their lives battling the unpredictable Yarnell Hill Fire in 2013. The film is based on the GQ article about the men who lost their lives entitled "No Exit", written by Sean Flynn. The cast includes Josh Brolin, Miles Teller, Jeff Bridges, and Jennifer Connelly.
Easily the most gut wrenching film of 2017, Only the Brave tells a powerful story that will stay with you long after the credits roll. A film like this goes well beyond the entertainment value it provides, offering viewers an intimate portrayal of a tight knit group of firefighters. The Granite Mountain Hot Shots were more than just firefighters, they were husbands, fathers, brothers, and sons. They were men that did a very dangerous job each and every day, and they did it for the right reasons. The small details of the lives of these brave men will stick with you, and my guess is it will remind you just how precious human lives really are. The emotional weight of Only the Brave is absolutely incredible, and I'm having a difficult time recalling a moment in a movie that hit as hard as one of the final scenes. A movie like this is supposed to hit viewers like a freight train and it does. I really enjoyed Only the Brave and as sad and tragic as this event was I'm glad the story is being told.
The cast in Only the Brave is absolutely spot on from top to bottom. I am a huge Miles Teller fan and I feel like he is painfully underrated as an actor. Teller plays a very crucial role and he was, without question, the man for the job. I am a big Taylor Kitsch fan as well and I really enjoyed the chemistry he shared with Teller. You couldn't help but smile about the relationship that develops between the two men who started out disliking each other. As usual Josh Brolin dominated a role where he is in a position of power. Brolin is a fantastic actor and I think he took full advantage of his opportunities with this role. Jennifer Connelly is solid in her role as Brolin's wife especially considering the level of emotional investment required by her character. Jeff Bridges was great as well and I always enjoy seeing him on the big screen. Each and every actor playing one of these brave men took on their respective roles with great pride and the level of comradery amongst the cast was infectious.
Only the Brave is funny, moving, and unforgettable. This is a story of heroism as much as it is an appreciation of life. I feel for all of these men and their families, and their stories will stay with me. Even though I went in to the theater knowing the outcome of this tragic story, I still wasn’t prepared for it. Only the Brave is an example of a movie that people need to see, not just because it will provide genuine entertainment and help to boost the stock for Kleenex, but because you will be a better person for having taken the time to get to know these men in some small way. Highly recommended.
