Devotion

Devotion (2022)

Directed by J.D. Dillard

Screenplay by Jake Crane & Jonathan Stewart

Based on the book, "Devotion: An Epic Story of Heroism, Friendship, and Sacrifice" by Adam Makos

Stars: Jonathan Majors, Glen Powell, Christina Jackson, Joe Jonas, Thomas Sadoski, Serinda Swan, Daren Kagasoff, Nick Hargrove, Spencer Neville, Dean Denton, and Bill Martin Williams

Have you ever had one of those feelings where you go into a movie knowing that it will be generic? Well, my alarm was going off with this one.

Jesse Brown (Majors) is the only Negro fighter pilot in the army during the Korean War. A new transfer comes into the outfit, Tom Hudner (Powell). The two form an unlikely friendship until they are called into action.

I had the same qualms with this like I did with Red Tails or Selma. The story could have been effective if the storytelling was up to par. It feels like the movie is going through the motions. Very paint by numbers. It does not have any life to it.

The core story is interesting, but the filmmaking made it a boring experience to witness. I tried to pay attention to the movie, but I was dosing off. Not paying attention.

Majors was giving it his all, but the movie did not do him any justice.

Rating: 4/10

Top Gun: Maverick

Top Gun: Maverick (2022)

Directed by Joseph Kosinski

Story by Peter Craig and Justin Marks

Screenplay by Ehren Kruger, Eric Warren Singer and Christopher McQuarrie

Based on characters created by Jim Cash & Jack Epps, Jr

Stars: Tom Cruise, Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Charles Parnell, Glen Powell, Lewis Pullman, Bashir Salahuddin, Monica Barbaro, Jay Ellis, Danny Ramirez, Jack Schumacher, Manny Jacinto, Kara Wang, Greg Tarzan Davis, Jake Picking, Raymond Lee, Ed Harris, and Val Kilmer

I was in a viewing slump as of late. There weren't many movies that felt like a movie. I waited a long time to see this movie, because I didn't want to be another disappointment. After my tepid response to Top Gun, I was pleasantly surprised by this movie.

Hard-headed, stubborn Maverick (Cruise) remains a captain for over thirty years, because he wants to continue to fly. A once in a lifetime opportunity comes when Maverick is summoned to come back to Top Gun to teach the best of the best pilots to run a covert mission to destroy a uranium plant from going online.

I expected this movie to be a rehash of the original movie. There were callbacks to the original. I was fine with it. I never expected to laugh, cry, hold my breath in the movie. It has done it. Thank you movie for making me care about these characters.

The action sequences were compelling. It was weird that I heard the theme of CSI peppered into the score of the movie. The performance from the cast were stellar. It was weird that some of the people coming to Top Gun had no lines. 

Did anyone notice that scene with Rooster (Teller) and Maverick where height difference was off?

Rating: 9/10