Review 791: Pressure

We've seen so many WWII dramas over the last decade or so, films that have conveyed untold stories about our history: How Alan Turing cracked the enigma code,  

Based on the play Pressure by David Haig; During the tense final days before D-Day, the fate of the free world hangs in the balance. Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower (Brendan Fraser) summons meteorologist James Stagg (Andrew Scott) to  The two men face an impossible choice - launch the largest and most dangerous invasion in history or risk losing the war altogether.

 

The screenplay, co-written by Haig and director Anthony Maras, feels economical with not a moment wasted and makes you feel the intense pressure that these people were under

The result is an experience that's not only tense but also inspirational: One of the best films of the year.

It's funny because it's not a particularly elaborate period piece - the majority of the film takes place at and around Southwick House  It feels like a filmed play 

the score by Volker Bertelmann is splendid

Although he was a great General, Eisenhower had never seen war before then. 

Damien Lewis  as Gen. Bernard "Monty" Montgomery  He feels like everybody's against him because they've all got opinions about him personally or his choices & his thoughts. It's the demeanour of how he holds himself against that power and that constant argumentative nature of everyone around him is riveting to watch. And yet, his opinion is an absolutely valid strategic military choice to get these soldiers across no matter the cost what would shorten the war and save hundreds of lives in the process. So his opinion from a military point of view is as valid as everyone else. 

 Chris Messina Col. Irving Krick He really believed he was Clark Gable