The Granite Mountain Hotshots story is the most tragic firefighter incident in US history and now the event comes to life on the big screen. Firefighters are some of the bravest men on the earth putting their lives on the line every day and this movie exemplifies it. “Only the Brave” is based on the tragic true story of the Granite Mountain Hotshots. An elite wildland firefighter group who put their lives on the front line to protect towns and lives from forest wildfires. The film is based on the GQ article “No Exit” by Sean Flynn. The film has an all-star cast lineup led by Josh Brolin. Brolin gives one of the best performances of his career as Eric Marsh the lead protagonist. The rest of the cast features great performances from Miles Teller as Brendan McDonough, Jeff Bridges as Duane Steinbrink, and Jennifer Connelly as Amanda Marsh. Director Joseph Kosinski adds more to the story by giving an in-depth analysis of the lead characters and puts an emphasis on their personal lives. Hanna Shull a college student states “I liked how the movie went into great detail of the character’s backgrounds, it really added to the level of emotion in the film particularly Eric Marsh and Brendan McDonough”. The film follows Eric Marsh a firefighter who wants nothing more than to be on the front lines leading a hotshot team against forest wildfires. Marsh bands together a group of young men with drive and determination who are willing to sacrifice everything to protect families and communities. This group of men would then become the Granite Mountain Hotshots. One of the most elite firefighter groups in the US. Over the course of the film, the group forges a brotherhood that is put to the ultimate test when they battle a fire raging in Yarnell, Arizona. The film is very popular among movie critics and casual moviegoers alike. Max Elliot an avid movie lover praised the movie and states “It is the most powerful and emotional film I have seen all year”. Matt Hatfield a casual moviegoer felt the film was a little too long as it clocks in at 133 minutes. He states “The movie was a little too long for my taste however the ending is so emotional and powerful that it left me in tears”. Director Joseph Kosinski did a fantastic job putting the hotshot crew at the center of attention in the film and showing the brotherhood that they forged together. Kosinski honors the brave crew the best way possible by taking a real-life hero story and showing what they stood for and the actions they took to protect the community. When it comes to true events being brought to the big screen “Only the Brave” delivers. Moviegoers will leave the theater with many different emotions such as sadness, appreciation, proud, and much more. “Only the Brave” is an extremely emotionally powerful film that introduces you to what wildland firefighters do and how teams like the Granite Mountain Hotshots make sacrifices to ensure the safety of our communities.
Only the Brave: Movie Review
