Image Credit: Paramount Pictures / Brad Pitt
Introduction to Pit, Odin, and Their Dangerous Journey Through the Alaskan Wilderness
Pit is James, a former special forces guy who has spent decades in uniform and has seen more than his fair share of combat. His dog Odin is a combat canine trained to search, hunt, and take down enemies. They're on a trip in Alaska to camp, fish, just enjoy the calm. But after a plane crash, they have to hike close to 60 m out of the treacherous terrain. And to reiterate what I said in the intro, the opening scene of the movie shows us that Odin does not die, which is a huge element for me and I'm sure for a ton of others as well. I was hesitant going into this because the majority of dog movies end with me hating humanity and then cursing the filmmakers who just put me through emotional hell to watch an innocent, loving, pure-hearted creature die on screen. And those of you who are getting ready to pound on your keyboards about not feeling the same level of compassion for a human, guess what? I've met people, a lot of them suck. I have yet to meet a dog or any animal for that matter that has vile or ulterior intentions. Humans are conniving, deceitful, bigoted, sometimes awesome, but mainly crappy. So yeah, to bluntly answer the question, I will choose an animal over a person 99.9% of the time. Okay, enough of that rant, though. This is a stunning movie to watch. The cinematography captures the grandeur and isolation the Alaskan wilderness offers up. We get to see the snowcap mountaintops with all of the craggy outcroppings and facades, tranquil meadows where the wind rustles the knee high grasses, and then alternately serene and ravaging waters that promote calmness and ferocity. Ayer takes the time to allow us to feel the presence of these environments while also not making it feel as though we've stumbled into some kind of nature documentary. The shots have purpose, but also don't linger enough to become just static wallpaper. And the pacing for this is also deliberate and steady, but always increasing. From the outset, there is momentum that's being built. It starts off with a slow and relaxed tempo and then grows as it moves along. All through this, we also get to know and better understand both Odin and James, which involves a lot of wartime flashbacks. But what was unique and super effective was the first time we get to see either of the duo experience some of their PTSD.
The Astounding Performance of Odin and Brad Pitt's Empathetic Character Arc
Odin is having a nightmare, and instead of dumping us into a combat scenario, we just hear gunfire and explosions mixed with screams and yells. All the while, we're watching Odin asleep and twitching. And because it was presented this way, we get an intimate look at the effect that it has on the dog. Now, sure, yes, seeing combat is harrowing and it's scary, but it's even more impactful to watch the lasting torment and psychological scarring that has happened to Odin in that moment. Later, we get to see imagery of the battlefield. But for that initial sequence that established Odin's PTSD, this was an indelible experience. And Odin, who's played by a few different dogs, really could be used as acting examples for many human actors. The expressiveness these dogs convey with just their eyes and then slight head tilts, it's astounding. They speak volumes without obviously uttering a word. We feel the fear, elation, surprise, heartbreak, and yearning that Odin displays. Each emotion just being palpable and intense. But not to be outdone, Brad Pitt also showcases a side of him that kind of sloughs off the tough guy persona and becomes a character who is empathetic and compassionate. And that's not to say he's not deadly or tough. The soldier identity remains, but he doesn't have to flaunt it. There's no mo posturing that's going on. James has served his time and he's confident in his skill set, which means not only survival, but elimination of threats as well. But Pit balances these traits to give us someone who genuinely comes across as just tired and ready for extreme peace. And he certainly achieves that characterization.
Nuanced Supporting Performances by Anna Lamb and J.K. Simmons
And while the vast majority of the story does focus solely on James and Odin, they do encounter two other people through this journey. One is played by Anna Lamb. She was most recently in Netflix's North of North comedy series, and she killed it there. But here, her role is small, but still vitally important to the narrative, bringing quiet tenderness when it's needed most. And then there's JK Simmons. He's done up like some Jeremiah Johnson meets Grizzly Adams meets Hugh Glass sort of character. He's grimy, gritty, kind of an old fogy, and mildly sketchy. The interaction that he has with James is funny and real, illustrating how James may be trying to pursue peace, but is still very wary of any strangers and their motives. And Simmons is excellent in his role, giving off this old prospector vibes, complete with a scratchy voice and gold tooth. But what I appreciate most about the character isn't what's said, but what's shown. And it's extremely subtle. When we watch Simmons hop into his boat and set off across the water, some key elements of his setup foreshadow what's to come. They're kind of a blink and you'll miss it sort of thing, and they're not important if you do miss them, but because I noticed it, it stood out as poignantly creative. From an action standpoint, this story is fierce and terrifying. There are moments where the entire theater gasped, just collectively sucking out all of the oxygen in the room and then not letting that breath out for what seemed like minutes. And it's not just one scene that threatens to make you pass out from stress. Ayer makes the landscape the most vicious character within the story, using every bit of the environment to attack and maim as best it can, which also is what makes the cinematography so beautiful to take in. The contrast between the exquisitess of the surroundings, but lies a lot of the danger that's inherently present.
Heart-Wrenching Storytelling, Unbreakable Bonds, and a Four and a Half Couch Verdict
The storytelling and plot are powerful, moving, heart-wrenching, all in the best ways and fully captivating. This is both feel-good and devastating, allowing us to feel the spectrum of emotions while constantly cheering on the duo. I was pleasantly surprised by this. I saw it the same week that I saw Hope, and Heart of the Beast was the movie that I wasn't fully excited to see, but it ended up being the superior story. The mix of danger, stress, natural comedy, and then an unbreakable bond. They all work together to build a narrative that will lift your spirits, then stomp on your heart, punch you in the jaw, and then wrap you up in a warm hug. The hour 41 flies by with the momentum being helped by creatively delivered character background and immersive world building. Gorgeous cinematography transports us to this vicious and beautiful environment using sparse dialogue that's enhanced by the emotional and physical bond shared between James and Odin to convey through actions what words cannot. And while some of the CGI can be slightly noticeable, it's not prevalent, so it doesn't become a distraction to the overall presentation. David Ayer is hit or miss with his films, but this is most certainly centered in the hits category, resting solidly on the performances from Pit and the canines who portray Odin. There's no sex and nudity, some profanity, then a bunch of violence. I give Heart of the Beast four and a half out of five couches. While this can be an emotionally exhausting movie to watch, it's absolutely worth it. Okay, are there any dog ccentric films that you love to watch? Let me know some of your favorites in the comments below. If you enjoyed this review, please give it a like. Also, don't forget to share and subscribe. This is Movies and Munchies. Thanks for couching with me.
0 Comments