Piety , 2022.
Director: JD Dillard.
Cast: Jonathan Majors, Glenn Powell, Christina Jackson, Thomas Sadoski, Joe Jonas, Joseph Cross, Darren Kagasoff, Serinda Swan, Nick Hargrove, Boone Platt, Matt Reidy, Logan McRae, Spencer Neville, Dean Denton and Adetinpa Thomas.
SYNTAX :
A pair of US Navy fighter pilots risked their lives during the Korean War to become one of the Navy’s most famous volunteers.
At the beginning of the JDDillard- directed film Devotion (written by Jake Crane and Jonathan Stewart based on the book by Adam Makos), the model of Navy pilot Jesse Brown (Jonathan Majors, who is designed and fought against every part of humanity in a collective action). blockbuster dedicated to a historical figure) is preparing to land a new model aircraft on an aircraft carrier. Part of this preparation is looking in the mirror and constantly berating yourself, aligning with the goal. It is immediately clear that these are insults addressed to him by racists who did not consider this country throughout his education and activity.
Such a scene may seem unnecessary and silly, but it is very fascinating and moving in its execution; Jonathan Majors contorts his face incredibly, his gaze so focused and penetrating that the mirror is about to break.
As a result, the perilous ordeal that follows is terrifying (and Eric Messerschmitt and Chanda Dancy’s shocking score applies to all the major action shots). Footage of Jesse Brown from the cockpit repeats, still stark and focused, using this verbal pain to prove naysayers and naysayers wrong. It’s a refreshing approach to exploring racism on screen and through the lens of universal emotion, given that it’s not hard to imagine many people being humiliated and rejected in life. Sometimes the best way to start a fire is to use these words and damage dealt like a match.
This is not to say that everyone in Devotion is violently racist. Set during the Korean War, Jesse Brown still has to overcome many racial barriers and obstacles (after all, he was the first Marine pilot), but he has found mutual respect and friendship with Lt. Tom Hudner (Glenn Powell). As we recently saw in the blockbuster Top Gun: Maverick , it knows all about cinematic combat. Of course, some of these conversations are safe and obvious (Jesse points out that he would never have gotten to where he is if he was as tough as Tom). Loyalty means goodness, and it means benefiting from the guidance of a black boss smart enough to follow Jesse’s point of view when a difficult discussion arises.
Surprisingly, one of Devotion ‘s strongest segments has nothing to do with air or ground combat (there’s plenty of that, though they sometimes seem unexciting). During their free time, the pilots visit Cannes, where Jesse runs into Elizabeth Taylor (Serinda Swan) on the beach and is invited to a gambling party. What follows is a unique social setting for a film of this genre, where Jesse faces an initial racial slur at the door (two men standing outside don’t believe Elizabeth Taylor encouraged their presence) and then some more criticism inside. In Tom. vehemently rushes to Jesus’ defense.
This is not what Jesse wants. “Just be my mate,” he says.
These people are in imminent danger, and Devotion uses the horrors of war with cinematic mastery. Bullets fly, explosions go off everywhere, and fighter pilots land (often crashing into snow-covered landscapes for visual delight) to a masterful soundtrack (director JD Dillard’s father was a pilot). , so given the care that went into the image of the plane, it’s safe to say that everything looks mostly original).
Of course, Jesse is also devoted to his wife Daisy (Christina Jackson) and their son, which, while it packs an emotional punch, also feels like work. Aside from Daisy, the supporting cast consists of interchangeable faces who exist to belittle and antagonize Jessie, who are cute and proper but lack the depth and character that the main characters bring to their roles. It also means that some of the action sequences lack a sense of urgency and danger unless the film is about Jesse and Tom. Fortunately, the filmmakers understand this and keep going down.
Loyalty is a thrilling journey through a thoughtful look at the prejudices of the era, using standard historical narratives mixed with crowd-pleasing hype, and whether you know Jesse Brown or not, it’s emotionally engaging. Jonathan Majors continues to command the screen, cementing his status as a must-see talent at his peak.
Burning myth rating – movie: ★ ★ ★ / movie: ★ ★ ★
Robert Koider is a member of the Chicago Film Critics Association and the Critics’ Choice Association. He is also the comments editor of Flickering Myth. Stay tuned for more reviews here, follow me on Twitter or Letterboxd, or email me at [email protected].
