A lesser directorial effort would've gone all in on the macho cheerleading and humdrum patriotism that so often plagues these based-on-true-story films; but Joseph Kosinski impressively tells a story that is deeply emotional and genuinely effecting, as a story about these hero firefighters ought to be. Instead of musing endlessly about the heroic nature of the job, zeroing in on the local populace's adoration and the sacrifices these men proudly made (which aren't bad things, just often mishandled in movies); the movie really makes an effort to feature the technicalities of being a firefighter, particularly one who fights wildfires. The politics of rank and department, the strategies for containing and eliminating risk, the imposing conditioning required for the job; it's…

The main reason I wanted to go see this film was because of the director, Joseph Kosinski. I had really enjoyed his past two directorial efforts (Tron Legacy and Oblivion) and was interested to see how he would work outside the sci-fi genre. Needless to say, my expectations were exceeded.

Only the Brave is an emotional yet uplifting film that will leave you with a heavy heart.

The film follows the true story of the Granite Mountain Hotshots, a firefighter group based in Arizona who tragically perished in the Yarnell Hill Fire in June of 2013. The film spends a lot of time building these characters, informing you about their job, and making you sympathize with what they're doing. The…

This one really hit me. I wasn't expecting to enjoy "Only the Brave" nearly as much as I did. This is such a powerful, inspiring, and effective drama that really left an impact on me. I was blown away by pretty much all the performances here. Josh Brolin gives one of his very best as does Miles Teller who keeps climbing higher on my favourite working actors list. Not to be forgotten are Jeff Bridges, Jennifer Connelly, Taylor Kitch and especially the very underrated James Badge Dale who are all great as well. The fire sequences are done very well and they always feel real. All the characters here are very well developed and by the end I pretty much…

Eric March is a total screen archetype, a hard-ass firefighter who leads his crew into battle against the blazes that threaten acres of Arizona landscape every year. Only The Brave, an love letter to the men who put themselves in harm’s way based on a 2013 GQ article has the luck of having Josh Brolin as Eric Marsh himself. The 49-year-old actor is more than suited to this rugged, blue-collar hero and he imbues the role with a lived-in look that helps when he has to deliver some rather dubious dialog. Brolin sells it, as does that all-star ensemble cast that includes Jennifer Connelly as Marsh’s wife, Amanda, Miles Teller as a firefighter in need of redemption, as well as…