Only the Brave 2017

     This film is based on the true story of the Granite Mountain Hotshots and a GQ article titled No Exit by Sean Flynn.  This group is a highly trained and elite group of firefighters.  They will risk everything to protect a town in the path of a forest fire.  In 2007 Prescott, Arizona Eric Marsh is working to get his team of firefighters certified ad Hotshots.  Marsh is frustrated over the time this is taking and because another Hotshot crew overrules his operations suggestions and a town is devoured by fire.  Marsh needs new recruits and he hires Bendan McDonough.  Brendan has just been bailed out of jail, he’s on probation and he has a record.  Brendan has a baby daughter and he’s determined to make sure he supports and sees his daughter.  He doesn’t want her to be raised like he was raised.  The fire they are fighting is the Yarnell Hill Fire of June 2013.

     Northern California has dealt with devastating fires in this summer of 2018.  I thought about those fires and the deaths as I was watching this movie.  Eric Marsh is tough on new recruit Brendan but he needs it to turn his life around.  He starts from square one to build up his mental and physical strength.  Just running is too much for him.  I'm not sure why but he's given the nickname "Donut?"  3 1/2* (I liked this movie.    
           

134 min, Bio directed by Joseph Kosinski with 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.

Note:  Imdb 7.7 out of 10, 87% critic 91% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Roger Ebert 3*, Metacritic 72 out of 100 with critics 7.4 out of 10 with 95 reviews, Common Sense Media 3* out of 5*, age 13+, positive 4*, role models 4*, violence 3*, sex 2*, language 3*, drinking, drugs, smoking 3*.

Special Note:  Filmed in Los Alamos, Pecos and Santa Fe, New Mexico and Prescott, Arizona.  Jennifer Connelly spent time with Amanda Marsh to prepare for her role.  She also wore Amanda’s boots in this film.  Brandon Bunch portrays his friend and fellow hotshot Garret Zuppiger.  Bunch left the Hotshot team 2 weeks before they fought the fire in this film.  His wife was almost ready to deliver their third son.  There is a mistake when a helicopter refills its water bucket from a swimming pool.  When the water is released, it comes out muddy.  (I thought there was something wrong with the water in this scene.) Wildland or forest firefighters employed by the Federal Government are payed an average of $49,690 a year.  Smoke jumpers earn about $16 per our and a foreman earns about $24.  They aren't paid extra for parachute jumps but receive hazard pay of 25% of their base pay.