Only the Brave (2017)

Based on the true story of the Granite Mountain Hotshots, a group of elite firefighters who risk everything to protect a town from a historic wildfire.

Director:

Joseph Kosinski

Writers:

Sean Flynn (based on the GQ article "No Exit" by), Ken Nolan

Stars:

Josh Brolin, Miles Teller, Jeff Bridges

3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Josh Brolin	...	Eric Marsh
Miles Teller	...	Brendan McDonough
Jeff Bridges	...	Duane Steinbrink
Jennifer Connelly	...	Amanda Marsh
James Badge Dale	...	Jesse Steed
Taylor Kitsch	...	Christopher MacKenzie
Andie MacDowell	...	Marvel Steinbrink
Geoff Stults	...	Travis Turbyfill
Alex Russell	...	Andrew Ashcraft
Thad Luckinbill	...	Scott Norris
Ben Hardy	...	Wade Parker
Scott Haze	...	Clayton Whitted
Jake Picking	...	Anthony Rose
Scott Foxx	...	Travis Carter
Dylan Kenin	...	Robert Caldwell

Storyline

In 2007 Prescott, Arizona, Eric Marsh of the Prescott Fire Department is frustrated fighting forest fires when the Type 1 or "Hotshot" front line forest fire fighting crews from afar overrule his operational suggestions to his area's sorrow. To change that, Marsh gets approval from the Mayor to attempt to organize an unprecedented certified municipal-based Hotshot crew for Prescott. To that end, Marsh needs new recruits, which includes the young wastrel, Brendan McDonough, to undergo the rigorous training and qualification testing for the most dangerous of fire fighting duty. Along the way, the new team meets the challenge and the hailed Granite Mountain Hotshots are born. In doing so, all the men, especially McDonough, are changed as new experience and maturity is achieved in fire-forged camaraderie. All this is put to the test in 2013 with the notorious Yarnell Hill Fire that will demand efforts and sacrifices no one can ignore.

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Plot Keywords:

wildfire | firefighter | forest fire | natural disaster | helicopter | 

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Taglines:

It's Not What Stands In Front Of You, It's Who Stands Beside You

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Genres:

Biography | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for thematic content, some sexual references, language and drug material

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site [Japan]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 October 2017 (USA)

Also Known As:

Granite Mountain

Filming Locations:

Los Alamos, New Mexico, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$38,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$6,002,665, 22 October 2017, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$18,340,051, 28 January 2018

Company Credits

Production Co:

Black Label Media, Conde Nast Entertainment, Di Bonaventura Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

134 min 118 min (Mainland China Cut Version)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Atmos

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Multiple Marvel Movies connection; Josh Brolin is Thanos from a number of marvel movies, and is also portraying Cable in Deadpool 2 (2018). Miles Teller is Reed Richards in the rebooted Fantastic Four (2005). Jennifer Connelly portrayed Betty Ross in Ang Lee's Hulk (2003) as well as having provided the voice of Karen (the "suit lady") in Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017). Taylor Kitsch was Gambit in X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009). Ben Hardy was Angel in X-Men: Apocalypse (2016). James Badge Dale was Eric Savin (or Coldblood) in Iron Man Three (2013). Jeff Bridges played Obadiah Stane in the original Iron Man (2008).

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Goofs

The red and white Bell 204/205 helicopter shown taking the crew up to their first Hot Shot evaluation, ship 202, has a registration number of N0312DF. This is a civilian helicopter, with a civilian N-Number, but US civilian N-Numbers are only five characters, this one has six. This is obviously a made up registration number, as it can't (and doesn't) exist in real life. The second Bell 204/205 seen during this extraction, ship 203, also has a fake six character N-Number, N1979DF.

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Quotes

Duane Steinbrink: There are two things that can make a man move. Fear and greed.

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Crazy Credits

Before the credits roll the real Granite Mountain Hotshots are shown along with the actors who portrayed them.

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Connections

Featured in Boot Camp: Becoming a Hotshot (2018)

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Soundtracks

It's a Long Way to the Top
Written by Malcolm Young (as Malcolm Mitchell Young), Angus Young (as Angus McKinnon Young) and Bon Scott (as Ronald Belford Scott)
Performed by AC/DC
Courtesy of Columbia Records Nashville by arrangement with Sony Music Licensing

User Reviews

Wild fire disaster movie packs an emotional wallop

"Only the Brave" (2017 release; 133 min.) brings the story if the Granite Mountain Hot Shots fire squad. As the movie opens, "Based on True Events" we are reminded, we get to know Eric Marsh and his gang, as they are trying to get certified as Hot Shots, allowing them to combat wild fires in the front line. We also get to know Brendan, a doped-out loser whose girlfriend just got pregnant. Realizing he needs to turn his life around, Brendan applies to join the fire squad and for reasons unknown until much later in the movie, Eric decides to give Brendan a shot. In a parallel story, we also get to know Eric;s wife Amanda, a horse whisperer. But not all is well in their marriage... At this point we are 15 min. into the movie but to tell you more of the plot would spoil your viewing experience, you'll just have to see for yourself how it all plays out.

Couple of comments: this is the latest movie from up-and-coming director Joseph Kosinski, who previously directed "Ton: Legacy" and "Oblivion". In his latest, he steers away from sci-fi and instead brings us the incredible story of the Prescott, AZ wild fire squad, nicknamed the Granite Mountain Hot Shots. I expected a disaster movie, and there is certainly that too, but the movie does much more than that: it brings the story of a group of people in a way that you are completely emotionally invested in those people, and you CARE. Kosinski directs an all-star cast, headed by Josh Brolin as Eric. Is it just me, but Brolin only seems to get better as he is getting older. That guy is just solid and authentic. Miles Teller plays the role of Brendan, an unlikable character at first. Jennifer Connelly is outstanding as Eric's wife Amanda. Taylor Kitsch is one of the guys in the fire squad. In much smaller roles, Jeff Bridges is Duane (Eric's superior), and the ageless Andie MacDowell plays Duane's wife. The movie's photography is eye-candy, and the wild fire scenes, which I imagine are mostly CGI, look very real to me. Last but not least, there is a very nice musical score, courtesy of composer Joseph Trapanese (who has worked with Kosinski before).

"Only the Brave" opened wide this weekend, and I was really looking forward to seeing it. The Friday evening screening where I saw this at here in Cincinnati was attended only so-so (less than half a fairly small theater), somewhat to my surprise, given the stellar critical acclaim this movie has been getting. I can only speak for myself, but I found this to be an outstanding wild fire disaster movie that packs an emotional wallop I didn't expect. I encourage you to check out "Only the Brave", be it in the theater, on VOD, or eventually on DVD/Blu-ray, and draw your own conclusion.