Only the Brave

Only the Brave (2017) Drama 10/10

This film is based on the Granite Mountain HotShots that operated with the Prescott Fire Department in Prescott, AZ. (FYI – it is pronouced Pres-kitt, instead of Pres-Scott). This was another eye opening film for myself because I really didn't know the different levels of forest fire fighters and how insane it is to get certification. Josh Brolin gives an excellent performance and has a uncanny likeness to his character Eric Marsh, in fact majority of the actors that played their characters looked very much like them. The training for this film had to be super, duper because the realness that this film brought was incredible. The CGI images of the fires were amazing alone. The one thing that really impressed me was that when people are a part of such a team the idea is re-enforced by everyone in the station/fire house that everyone on the team is family. Family to call when your baby is sick and you don't know what to do. Family to share good times and bad with. Family there to support each other when the going gets rough. Miles Teller did an amazing job of playing 'Doughnut' Brendan McDonough. Preparation for forest fire fighting seemed to be just as, if not more, strenuous than a regular fire fighter aka Structural Fire Fighter. With wildfires burning in Canada (Northern Ontario, British Columbia), the US (Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washingtom and Wyoming). These statistics are as current as August 12, 2018. Some of these states with fires are not severely in danger but the list was relating to states that are currently reporting large fires. (Here is the link for the information https://www.nifc.gov/fireInfo/nfn.htm). The website link also gives detailed information as to where in the individual states the fires are and whether they are new or contained plus how much acreage is being eaten by the fires. This film sheds light on what can be a forgotten and recognized part of the fire fighting industry and the HotShots deserve every bit of recognition they can get.

Only the Brave Trailer