Yet it’s impossible to ignore all of their positive traits - fearless, unwavering, conflicted, generous, loyal. There’s no glorification of the key players - in fact, there are moments when they’re presented as sexist, rude, and elitist. This film surpasses its genre peers by encapsulating something more than a linear narrative - its focus is firmly on the lives of the crew and their families, from which comes the emotion far too many of these biopics lack. ‘Only The Brave’ handles their story with great respect, with a strong emphasis on what made the Granite Mountain Hotshots unique - an unwavering affinity and inseverable bond. It was the greatest loss of firefighters in the United States since 9/11, and an unrivalled disaster for the small town they called home. ‘Only The Brave’ is based on the true story of the Granite Mountain Hotshots, which lost 19 of its team members when they perished in an overwhelming inferno in 2013. Yet the pressures of being on top are a challenge, as they regularly risk their lives with long stretches away from their family - and with the unpredictable nature of wildfires, danger is always just around the corner. When they finally get the break they’ve been waiting for, and are given the chance to gain hotshot status, the team’s evaluation sees them all face extreme pressure - but they barely win the desired title to become the first ever municipal hotshot crew, and earn the respect of the nation over the six years they work together. However, with “deuce” status, they’re relegated away from the fire front, and subjected to ridicule from the elite hotshot units.

I thought I was facing the same when I went in to see ‘Only The Brave’ - but I was happily mistaken.Įric Marsh (Josh Brolin, 'Hail, Caesar!', 'Everest', 'Milk') runs a small yet dedicated firefighting crew in Prescott, Arizona.

There are more of these “based on a true story” films than you can bear with most of them telling a linear life story in 90 minutes, they’re often less than enthralling. It seems as though biopics are more plentiful than ever these days.

Only the brave movie based on