海角大神

鈥淒evotion,鈥� a new movie about U.S. naval pilots, has a well-timed release. It鈥檚 primed to ride on the coattails 鈥� or contrails 鈥� of 鈥淭op Gun: Maverick.鈥澛�

Both films share facile similarities: bombing missions in foreign countries, aerial dog fights in twisty canyons, actor Glen Powell playing a hotshot pilot. But the differences are striking.聽鈥淒evotion鈥� is based on a true story. Set during the Korean War, it鈥檚 about the interracial friendship between the Navy鈥檚 first Black aviator, Jesse Brown (Jonathan Majors), and his wingman Tom Hudner (Powell). The biggest contrast between the two movies? 鈥淭op Gun鈥� focuses on bravery, while 鈥淒evotion鈥� focuses on courage.聽

Ensign Brown鈥檚 supportive wife, Daisy (Christina Jackson), tells him he belongs in the sky. Yet it鈥檚 hard for her husband to soar when each flight is laden with a weight of expectation. His first attempt at landing a Vought F4U Corsair on an aircraft carrier draws a crowd of onlookers. The ship鈥檚 Black crew members emerge from below decks to watch. A white pilot sneers, 鈥淚t鈥檚 like they want to see Jackie Robinson steal home.鈥� When the camera zooms inside the cockpit, we discover that Brown is wide-eyed, sweating, and gripping the controls.聽

What terrifies Brown more than missing his landing is that others will see through his stoicism. As he begins to trust Hudner, who鈥檚 kind and nonjudgmental, he opens up about his past.

鈥淭he swim test in flight school 鈥� they made me do it 10 times,鈥� Brown聽tells his wingman. 鈥淭hey dumped ice in the water, put weights in my flight suit. But every time, I made it out. I can鈥檛 tell you how many times people have told me to give up, quit.鈥�

Unlike 鈥淭op Gun,鈥� the overlong 鈥淒evotion鈥� doesn鈥檛 feel the need for speed. The war scenes only arrive late in the story, which is based on the book 鈥淒evotion: An Epic Story of Heroism, Friendship, and Sacrifice鈥� by Adam Makos. The payoff is that director J.D. Dillard, whose father was a Black naval flight officer, creates compelling aerial combat sequences.聽

Ultimately, though, the most gripping battle scenes are internal. Mark Twain once observed, 鈥淐ourage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear 鈥� not absence of fear.鈥� In an attempt to face down his self-doubt, Brown stares at a mirror, tears slaloming down his cheeks, and motivates himself by reciting all the racist taunts he鈥檚 endured over the years.聽

Hudner, meanwhile, has never truly risked anything difficult for his friend. The wingman embodies gung-ho bravery. But upon successfully completing a daring mission, he discovers that it鈥檚 left him feeling empty. What, then, is he fighting for?

鈥淭he real battle in all of life is being someone people can count on,鈥� a wise commanding officer counsels Hudner. 鈥淭he most important thing is this: We bring everyone home.鈥�

Not everyone makes it out alive. But the one thing 鈥淒evotion鈥� does bring home is the true meaning of courage.

鈥淒evotion鈥� is rated PG-13 for strong language, some war action/violence, and smoking.聽