ONLY THE BRAVE

US, 2017, 134 minutes, Colour.
Josh Brolin, Jennifer Connolly, Miles Teller, Jeff Bridges, James Badge Dale, Andi Mac Dowell, Taylor Kitsch, Alex Russell.
Directed by Joseph Kosinski.

This is a fine film about firefighters, especially in Arizona. It is based on a true story and serves as a tribute to the firefighters. And, if an audience does not know the background of the story, it is well advised that they do not research it at all before seeing the film and so lessening its impact.

The Western states of the United States are frequently subject to huge forest fires. Professional firefighters as well as volunteers have to be ready at short notice to go into action. One of the great values of this film is how well and seriously it presents these themes. It highlights the professionalism needed by the firefighters, their dedication and commitment, the rigours of training which is very military-like, the need for following orders, the strong camaraderie in collaboration, the ever present dangers as well as the sometimes of long absences from home and family.

For other countries, like Australia, which experience fires in the summer seasons, this is a film well worth seeing. Visually, it certainly brings home the reality of the fires, their extent, the rapidity of movement given the winds, the intensity of the flames. Audiences will see how physically demanding the work is, hard work, with mental concentration – as well as the strategies that have to be developed by the leaders and supervisors to combat the fires. In this film, there are many fire sequences, realistic, and editing with the performers so that the experience of the fires is particularly real.

The film has a very good cast and is well written, based on a long article written in 2014 for GQ by Sean Flynn.

The film depends on the presence and performance of Josh Brolin as Eric, the superintendent of the group in Prescott, Arizona. He embodies very well the kind of sturdy solidity and responsibility that the firefighter leader must have. He is completely believable in the role. Jennifer Connolly is his strong-minded wife, Amanda, a horse-whisperer who is supportive of her husband but is beginning to change her mind about the need for having a family.

It is interesting to see Jeff Bridges, in the familiar kind of role as the older mentor, but with short back and sides and wearing glasses. He is a senior role model – although, towards the end of the film, he does have a moment to branch out at a celebration in a bar, singing Riders in the Sky. Andi Mac Dowell has some moments as his wife.

A team of good actors take the role of the special squad on which the film focuses. They are volunteers but want to be recognised and certified as an official group for their district. One of the episode shows their work in being observed for certification – and Eric using his crew with the observer, standing his ground in the decision about tactics. They are accepted and there are great celebrations, and T-shirts, to hail of the occasion.

It is Miles Teller (Whiplash) who has second billing. He plays Brendan Mc Donough who, it is noted at the end, served as a special adviser for the film. Actually, when he first appears, he is a heroin addict, something of a loner and a loser, has got a girl pregnant in a one-night stand, has been picked up the public by the police and jailed. He is ousted from his home by his mother. On probation, he does go to Eric and applies for a job with the firefighters, is interviewed strongly, is tested in a long-distance run and is finally accepted.

He clashes with one of the men who fancies himself a ladies’ man, Mac (Taylor Kitsch) but they develop a friendship, Brendan taking Mac in when he breaks up with his girlfriend, Mac fitting out the house for Brendan’s baby after her mother relents, supporting him after he is bitten by a snake. James Badge Dale is also strong as the captain of the group.

The action of the film builds up to a final fire, the historical fire in 2013 when the town of Yarnell stands in the pathway of the fire and the Granite Mountain Hotshots have to defend homes and stop the fire.

This is a solid film, interesting and entertaining, strong characterisations, significant action sequences, and showing how in reality, rather than in sloganeering, it is fighters like this who can make America great.

1. The title? Its being verified by the characters? A tribute to them?

2. A true story, American fires, the firefighters and their skills, their work? Arizona? The historical fire in 2013 and its toll?

3. The New Mexico locations for Arizona? The city of Prescott? The town, homes, the horses, bars, hospitals? The fire centre? Offices? The musical score?

4. The fire sequences, actual footage, edited in, the range of fires, the action, the intensity? The image of the burning bear?

5. The film as a portrayal of firefighters, their professionalism, professionals and volunteers? Experience, applications for licenses? Special firefighters for particular towns and areas? Supervisors and experience, captains and leadership, the range of men, young, the macho attitudes, tough, camaraderie, the choices for joining the firefighters, the rigorous training, running, push-ups et cetera? Testing their knowledge of the rules and protocols for work in combating the fires? Knowing them by heart? Always ready?

6. The firefighters as a group, personalities, trained and drilled, their loyalties, collaboration, following orders, seeing them in action?

7. The background of families, wives, children? The connections with them, domestic sequences? Their frequent absences? Dangers?

8. Eric and Amanda, the introduction, Eric waking, the phone calls, the jobs? Amanda working with the horses, her clients? Both of them tough? Not having any children? Their hard pasts and overcoming them? Continued tensions, yet love? Amanda and the horses, caring for the wounded horse, the car accident, the clients the next morning? Eric and his concern? Eric and his past experience, drugs and addiction? His abilities? His reliance on Duane? The discussions with Duane about the squad, certification, the discussion with the mayor in the bar, persuading the mayor? The reasons for giving the chance to Brendan, his own past? Calling him Donut? Jesse as his 2 IC? Eric and his knowledge, study, ability and situations, plans, the confrontation with Hayes and his taking his stance, his anger, breaking the chair – Duane’s visit, success? The celebration, the party, the T-shirts? Getting the name, Mount Granite? The ethos of the group? Yet the personal tensions with Amanda, her change her mind about having children? The discussions, going for the walk, talking with Duane, coming home, the sexual encounter – and his death?

9. Amanda, strong, her work? The discussions with Eric, changing her mind about children?

10. Duane, family life, his wife, his experience, the scenes at home, the meals and visitors, grandchildren? Duane and his talk with Eric, with the mayor? Success, the celebration, the new chair? In the bar, singing Riders in the Sky? The final talk with Eric and Eric’s decision about having children? Happier at the end?

11. Brendan, drug addiction, news of the pregnancy, in trouble with the police and larceny, in jail, parole? His mother wanting him out of home? His going to see Natalie, the truth of the pregnancy, her not wanting contact? His going to see Eric, the application, the interview? His being tested, Mac’s shoes and the hundred dollars? The run, his being sick, yet completing it, the photo verification? His being accepted? The exercise and training? His relationship with the men, and the clashes with Mac?

12. Natalie and her pregnancy, Brendan going to the supermarket, buying the goods, leaving them at the door? Eventually Natalie opening the door, offering him to hold the baby? The reconciliation, his mother proud of him?

13. The episode with the snake, going to hospital? Mac, the friendship, the sexy girlfriend, breaking off? The hospital, the attraction to the nurse? His having a place to stay with Brendan? Getting the house ready for the baby? In the hospital, support, snoring?

14. Time passing, the seasons, the firefighting seasons? The little girl growing up? The celebration and the families together?

15. The range of fires treated, the information given on locations, the jobs, the different strategies, seeing the men in action, hard work? The significance of saving the historic tree?

16. The bar, Duane singing, Brendan wanting to leave, the talk with Eric, Eric stand against his leaving – and later apology?

17. The final, the huge fire, Brendan as lookout, the danger, being rescued from the fire? The errors of the professionals, drenching the wrong place? The dangers, Eric and his leadership, decisions, having to move? The audience seeing the exercise of covering themselves – and their having to do it? The fire passing over them? Their deaths?

18. Getting the families in the gymnasium, the sadness, Amanda’s response? The desperate wives? Brendan’s arrival – and his sense of guilt of surviving?

19. The three years passing, Amanda and the horses, settled? Brendan with his daughter, at the tree on the monument?

20. Brendan Mc Donough having a role as adviser for the film? The photos of all the men with the actors who portray them?

21. A fine tribute, an American pride film, justified?