Dog’s Movie House: “Geostorm,” “Only The Brave,” Two Different Sides Of The Natural Disaster Coin!

 

Howdy Folks!  It’s The Kendog!

Extreme Weather In “Geostorm”

 

 

Timing is everything when it comes to the movies.  Release them at the right time and you have a huge hit on your hands, but suffer the misfortune of real-life events mirroring the subject matter of your film and the audiences will stay away in droves.   Witness this week’s two weather-related films: the disaster fantasy “Geostorm” and the true life tale of the Granite Mountain Hotshots “Only The Brave.”  The two films vary wildly in quality, but both have the misfortune of being released just after an entire slew of very real, very terrifying natural disasters have struck the country.  This means that audiences are going to be understandably disenchanted with the prospect of watching natural disasters reenacted on the big screen for their entertainment.  In the case of “Only The Brave” this is a real tragedy.  

But let’s start with “Geostorm” a movie title that sounds like a mid-nineties first-person computer shooting game.  In fact, were this film made in the late 1990s this movie probably would have been a monster hit.  As it stands right now, “Geostorm” is a film as goofy as it sounds.

 

The film does have an intriguing premise: in response to rapid climate change, the countries of the world unite to create a net of floating satellites, controlled by the International Space Station, designed for the sole purpose of dispersing hazardous weather events.  Three years after the system, called Dutch Boy, goes online, the system starts to act up, leading the satellites to cause extreme weather events rather than disperse them.  It’s up to hot-headed former project leader Jake Lawson (Gerard Butler) to stop Dutch Boy from destroying the world with the aforementioned “Geostorm” while his politician younger brother Max (Jim Sturgess) tries to figure out the conspiracy planet-side.

If executed properly, “Geostorm” would have been a nifty little B-movie, but first time director Dean Devlin (“Independence Day,” “Godzilla”) doesn’t have a grasp of the material.  Everything feels like playacting, from the political machinations from Andy Garcia’s President Of The United States to the illicit love affair between Max and Secret Service Agent Sarah Wilson (Abbie Cornish).  Even worse is casting beefcake movie star Butler as a super-genius without giving him anything to tether his performance to.  It’s like watching a bad Saturday Night Live sketch featuring Arnold Schwarzenegger as Stephen Hawking.  It’s not Butler’s fault: the script is what makes him look so damn silly, and he’s not alone.  Every single actor in this movie gets more than one “idiot moment” destined for a Rifftrax special.

 

The special effects are fine, but we’ve seen these huge CGI set pieces so many times before that the disaster scenes just fall flat.  Add the fact that most people have been watching real life destruction by Mother Nature and you have a real stinker on your hands.  Avoid this one at all costs.  1 1/2 Out Of 5 On Kendog’s Barkometer!

 

 

The real shame of these natural disasters is that audiences won’t see a fine film in “Only The Brave” Based on the GQ article “No Exit” by Sean Flynn this film tells the true story of the Granite Mountain Hotshots, an Arizona based wildfire-fighting crew who stood on the front line of some seriously terrifying blazes.

Directed by Joseph Kosinksi (“Oblilvion”) and written by Ken Nolan and Eric Warren Singer, the film is told primarily from the point of view of Supervisor Eric Marsh (an appropriately manly Josh Brolin).  He’s got a good crew, but politics and his temper have prevented them from becoming certified as “Hotshots” or first responders.  With help from leading citizen Duane Steinbrink (Jeff Bridges) and the mayor, they get their chance at certification and soon the team is at the forefront of some huge wildfires throughout Arizona.

Coinciding with Marsh’s story is the tale of Brendan McDonough (Miles Teller) a slacker drug addict who turns to Marsh’s unit when he finds out his girlfriend is pregnant and, predictably, wants nothing to do with him.  Marsh takes a chance on him (for reasons that become clear later in the film) and soon Brendan has kicked drugs and his holding up his end of the bargain, providing financial support for his girlfriend and child and even forming lasting relationships with his new comrades, specifically team wiseass Chris MacKenzie (Taylor Kitsch).   In the meantime, Marsh’s push to get his team certified as hotshots has put a strain on his marriage to his equally headstrong wife Amanda (Jennifer Connelly in one of the film’s best performances.).  Everything comes to a head when a huge wildfire threatens their hometown of Prescott and the Granite Mountain Hotshots find themselves in a situation more dangerous than they’ve ever experienced.

Now if you know the story, you probably know how it ends.  I didn’t and in deference to my readers who share my ignorance, I won’t spoil it for you.  What I will tell you is that “Only The Brave” is a gripping, thrilling drama with more heart in a single scene of dialogue than is any over-the-top exploding cityscape in “Geostorm.”  The performances are all authentic and riveting and relationships feel real.  Teller does a great job in subtly turning his life around and integrating himself into the tight-knit bunch of firefighters.  Connelly is terrific as the independent and willful wife of the equally stubborn Marsh and the scenes between them crackle with an intensity that rivals any of the admittedly terrific fire scenes in the film.  Bridges adds depth to the “good ole boy” persona he’s developed over the last few years, and the other members of the Hotshots do fairly well in underwritten roles.  Note:  The clip below reveals the fate of the Granite Mountain Hotshots.  Don’t watch if you don’t want to know!

Director Kosinski knows how to stage an action sequence and the fire scenes are harrowing to watch, especially the finale.  The fire moves like a living thing and when the wind kicks up the wrong way, there is no running from the flaming beast.  There is no conscience in a wildfire: it just lives to eat and destroy.  This is the best representation of fire on film since “Backdraft,” and that’s saying something.

With the Santa Rosa fires still fresh in everyone’s minds, it’s doubtful “Only The Brave” becomes a hit, and that’s okay because I think this film will find an appreciative audience once the wounds of the real tragedy start to heal.  But if you can take the emotional leap of faith, “Only The Brave” will reward you with a thrilling and emotional tribute to some of America’s greatest heroes.  4 1/2  Out Of 5 On Kendog’s Barometer!  So Sayeth The Kendog! 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *