2017   Sony Pictures

Rated:  PG-13

Length:  2 hr  14min

Action ~ Drama ~ True Story

Directed by:  Joseph Kosinski

Starring:  Josh Brolin, James Badge Dale, Jeff Bridges, Miles Teller, Alex Russell, Taylor Kitsch, Ben Hardy, Thad Luckinbill, Geoff Stults, Scott Haze, Andie MacDowell, and Jennifer Connelly.

Based on The True Story of The Granite Mountain Hotshots.

I came across this movie on Netflix and had to watch it again. I remembered seeing it when it first came out and that I really liked it. It is based on the true story of The Granite Mountain Hotshots, a Fire and Rescue Team in Prescott, Arizona. They lack the Hotshot Certification they need to be able to fight fires and are delegated to cleaning up after the Hotshot crews that are flown in. “Hotshot” crews are certified elite teams of Wildland firefighters that get called in to battle the big wildland fires local crews aren’t equipped or certified to handle. Josh Brolin portrays Eric Marsh, the Superintendent of the team, who is frustrated by having the best firefighting team around but because of a technicality, can’t get the certification they need to become “Hotshots”.

Eric enlists the help of his Fire Chief friend Duane Steinbrink (Jeff Bridges) to help him convince the Mayor to allow them to get Certified. He agrees and the team is given until the end of the fire season to achieve their certification, which they end up receiving. Miles Teller plays down on his luck Brendan McDonough who hears there might be a slot open on the crew. He has the right certification and is looking to turn his drug fueled existence around after finding out his ex-girlfriend is pregnant with his child. He does exactly that by giving it everything he has to prove to Eric and the team that he is clean, sober and fighting to make a change and be an integral part of the team.

Jennifer Connelly stars as Eric’s wife Amanda and in doing research for her role spent time with the real life Amanda Marsh. I love Jennifer in this movie, I think she did an excellent job of being the tough cowgirl wife of Eric not afraid to speak her mind. Josh Brolin is an absolute winner in this movie. I think it is one of his best performances in a movie, absolutely riveting. I really liked everybody in this movie as well, Jeff Bridges, Andie MacDowell and all the guys on the crew. The scenery was southwest beautiful and the fires themselves were intense. The action of the firefights themselves had me on the edge of my seat.

It is an incredible story portrayed well by the cast. I never knew The Granite Mountain Hotshots but this movie made me proud to know them through the movie. I love the relationship between Eric and Amanda, Brendan and his girlfriend, and the comradery of the guys on the crew. I had seen it before but I was glad I watched it again. Well worth a second viewing, I’d have to put it up there as one of my favorites. If you haven’t seen it, It is a damn good movie, well worth a watch. Give it a go!