BEAST MODE
James Belmont (played by Brad Pitt) is a retired, special forces soldier who with his dog Odin, gets stranded in the Alaskan wilderness after a plane crash. They must trek 58 miles to civilization or die trying. That's the rub of Heart of the Beast, a survival thriller that although not based on a true story, probably could've been. "Just a bad dream, we're not there anymore." Are you sure about that boss? Are you?
So yeah, I've just announced "Beast" as one of the best films of 2026 (so far). And after a viewing earlier today, I assure you it's as fervent as any PG-13 flick you'll ever see. Remember Liam Neeson's Ottway from The Grey or the Anthony Hopkins character from 1997's The Edge? Well Pitt's Belmont is the rugged stepchild of both of them, smart, resolute, and tenacious as all get-out. "I shot him in the head." Yeah Pittster, that's what I'm talking about.
Helmed with reckless abandon by David Ayer (was there ever any doubt), shot in New Zealand, and featuring enough vista long shots to power a small country, Heart of the Beast is part acute family film, part biota actioner, and all heart (no pun intended). I mean "Beast" does what all great movies do, it features three transformative scenes whether it's Belmont and his pup fighting wolves or Belmont and Odin staring down a grisly bear or Belmont and his German Sheppard pooch tackling some white water rapids. "We've been through worse." Yikes.
All in all, Heart of the Beast features some supreme physical acting by Brad Pitt, a Hollywood ending that is pure amber, and one of the great canine performances of all time (screen presence monger Odin played by um, Uber). Add some feverish direction by Ayer and a rousing score by Jared Michael Fry and you've got the cinematic counterpart of man's best friend. "Hearts on fire".
Written by Jesse Burleson
No comments:
Post a Comment