‎Only the Brave (2017) directed by Joseph Kosinski • Reviews, film + cast • Letterboxd

Only the Brave

2017 Directed by Joseph Kosinski

It’s not what stands in front of you, it’s who stands beside you

Members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots battle deadly wildfires to save an Arizona town.

Josh Brolin Miles Teller Jeff Bridges Jennifer Connelly James Badge Dale Taylor Kitsch Andie MacDowell Geoff Stults Alex Russell Thad Luckinbill Ben Hardy Scott Haze Jake Picking Scott Foxx Dylan Kenin Ryan Michael Busch Kenneth Miller Ryan Jason Cook Brandon Bunch Michael L. McNulty Nicholas Jenks Sam Quinn Natalie Hall Howard Ferguson Jr. Rachel Singer Ralph Alderman Jenny Gabrielle Brytnee Ratledge Pell James Show All…

133 mins More details at IMDb TMDb Report this film

Popular reviews

Review by Jack Lindberg ★★★★ 7

Goodnight moon...

insanely refreshing to see that peter berg and mark wahlberg had no involvement in this...

because it's 100% something they would make.
Review by Jared ★★★★ 6

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…
Review by matt lynch ★★★½ 3

Who knew the guy who made TRON: LEGACY was a better Peter Berg than the real thing?
Review by Mike Torchic ★★★★½ 2

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…
Review by josh lewis ★★★ 1

This review may contain spoilers. I can handle the truth.

still unsure how much of this is genuinely good and how much is just heavy-lifting by an unbelievable story, carried over the finish line by a charismatic cast and some gorgeous photography but hey it's made me cry twice. 19 men. just like that. recommended if you're looking for a movie starring josh brolin where most of the cast suddenly dies in the final minutes and it's actually moving.
Review by Connor Carey ★★★★

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…

Recent reviews

Review by Boolie ★★★½

I may be a sucker for movies about first responders, but regardless of that point I thought Only the Brave was a great movie. Very rarely does a movie succeed to emotionally move me, and this time, I was moved. The film captures the essence of brotherhood and comradery amongst the firefighters. Alongside these themes, the film explores how taxing the job can be not only physically, but emotionally as well and how the stress of being a firefighter effects the people you love. I would definitely recommend this movie.
Review by Ahmed Nasr ★★★★★

This by no means a review!
BUT if you haven't seen this movie or you're still trying to decide to watch it or not PLEASE watch it, it's a true MASTERPIECE.

I just cried and cried and cried so damn hard, i've never felt anything like this before never experienced this pain that am feeling in my chest right now from the impact of this film.

maybe it's cause it was telling the real thing. there's no words to describe this only TEARS!

just wanted to talk or "write" is the correct word, to ease and to let it all out there.

thank you for reading and understanding.
Review by JT1997 ★★★★

Sentimental filmmaking done right. Very well made and a beautiful ode to the brave men that are at the center of its story.
Review by MattMovieMan ★★★★½

Such a great movie about true heroes. Josh Brolin, Miles Teller and Taylor Kitsch were amazing.
Review by Jaime ★★★★

came for daddy brolin, stayed for an emotional story about found family
Review by Andrew Craddock ★★★★

This true story about the Granite Mountain Hotshots remains one of the most heart-wrenching films of last year, perhaps even more so for me after this rewatch. The way the camaraderie between the group is portrayed has a level of wonderful authenticity, and Brolin is outstanding.
Review by Cameron McMurdie ★★★★

An very emotional (if I wasn't watching it with the family, I would've cried buckets and buckets) and affecting true life film, with terrific performances specifically by Miles Teller and Jennifer Connelly (also by Jeff Bridges and Josh Brolin).
Review by Jacob Kizer ★★★★

Great acting all around in this, was expecting to like this movie but it exceeded expectations I really loved it.
Review by cinematiccritic ★★★

Action buddy movie based upon s true story of a team of municipal firefighters who achieve the elite status for fighting forest fires at the front line. An extremely dangerous job as we are constantly reminded during the film.

Josh Brolin gives a predictable solid performance as the team leader with Jeff Bridges as his father and Jennifer Connelly as his wife.

Some interesting side stories such as befriending an ex drug addict offender and giving them a chance of a job adds to the interest.

This film focuses more on the relationships than on the firefighting and ends rather abruptly. So less of an action film as billed!

Ok to watch, seen better but it being a true story adds to the interest!