“Only the Brave” (2017)

“Only the Brave” (2017) is a biographical drama directed by Joseph Kosinski that tells the true story of the Granite Mountain Hotshots, an elite team of firefighters based in Prescott, Arizona. The film is a poignant and powerful tribute to the bravery, camaraderie, and sacrifice of these men, culminating in the tragic events of the 2013 Yarnell Hill Fire, one of the deadliest wildfires in U.S. history.
The story primarily follows Eric Marsh (Josh Brolin), the superintendent of the Granite Mountain Hotshots, and Brendan McDonough (Miles Teller), a troubled young man who joins the team in a bid to turn his life around. Under Marsh’s strict but caring leadership, the team earns the respect and trust needed to become certified as Hotshots, the elite front-line firefighters who battle wildfires head-on.
As the team faces increasingly dangerous wildfires, the film delves into the personal lives of its members, particularly focusing on Marsh’s relationship with his wife Amanda (Jennifer Connelly) and McDonough’s journey toward redemption. The film builds to its harrowing climax at the Yarnell Hill Fire, where the team faces a deadly and unpredictable blaze.