Brendan Fraser (left) as Dwight D. Eisenhower and Andrew Scott (right) as James Stagg star in filmmaker Anthony Maras’ “Pressure” (Photo Credit: Alex Bailey/Focus Features/StudiCanal).
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(“Pressure” trailer courtesy of Focus Features)
Not all heroes wear capes, regardless of what Marvel and DC Comics have led many to believe.
Additionally, not all heroes carry guns on the battlefield as shown in a movie like “Hacksaw Ridge.”
Some heroes use their intellect and their confidence to help the generals and soldiers make the right moves in war, when the wrong move would have led to more catastrophe, loss of life and even worse, as is the case in “Pressure,” which depicts the critical decisions made to topple the Nazi regime during World War II.
In “Pressure,” Dwight “Ike” Eisenhower (Brendan Fraser, “Killers of the Flower Moon”) already has his own meteorologist to help him make decisions on when to strike the Nazis and when to stand down.
As a matter of fact, his meteorologist, Irving Krick (Chris Messina, “Air”), has gotten every forecast right in the past by researching similar weather patterns from the same time of year.
Nevertheless, Scottish meteorologist James Stagg (Andrew Scott, “John Adams”) is still recommended to Ike because many believe he is simply the best, to quote the late, great Tina Turner.
As in many cases, when a boss brings in a replacement or an equal collaborator, it can create some pressure in the office.
Stagg and Krick clash from the beginning.
But Stagg does not clash only with Krick.
In “Pressure,” Stagg is frustrated with the attitude of practically everyone in his office.
While the world is at war, many of his new colleagues somehow have the time to shoot the breeze, sing and play piano.
However, Stagg is a no-nonsense meteorologist who understands the importance of his position.
If he gets his forecasts correct, he could be one of the heroes that saves the world from a brutal and evil dictator.
But if Stagg gets his prediction wrong, the world that many people grew up with might cease to exist thanks to German President Adolf Hitler.
Despite all the distractions in the office, the only distraction Stagg wants is to have the ability to call his wife after he arrives on base.
Unfortunately, Stagg is not allowed to contact his wife from the base, making it impossible for him to check in on her and her current medical state.
What is even scarier for the Stagg family is that they have no communication in the middle of a war zone, adding to the pressure directed towards Stagg to get his forecast correct.
Ike wants D-Day to take place on June 5, 1944.
However, he needs to be 100 percent certain that the weather will hold up and not be an impediment to a mission that might turn the tide in World War II.
In “Pressure,” Krick predicts perfect weather for the planned D-Day invasion on June 5, 1944.
However, Stagg believes an unprecedented storm will reach the shores of Normandy, ensuring peril for the Allied forces.
Stagg wants to push back the invasion.
However, pushing back the invasion might allow word to leak to the Germans about the planned mission.
Unfortunately, Stagg has the same problem that Noah from the Bible had.
It is hard to convince people of impending doom when there is no precedent.
People laughed at Noah building the ark because they had not seen rain before.
In “Pressure,” Stagg’s colleagues scoff at his prediction of an unprecedented storm because the weather they are experiencing is chamber-of-commerce weather.
Furthermore, nothing he is predicting has happened before at a similar time on the calendar.
However, being a real leader, which can lead to heroic status, often means standing out in the crowd.
Being a true leader requires vision that many others cannot see.
And being a true leader requires not caring if people want to be their friend.
But it does not hurt any leader or visionary to have that one person in their corner, who will go to bat for them when all others turn their backs on them.
“Pressure” is a much-needed movie because many probably have never heard of Stagg and his role in saving the world, no hyperbole intended.
Many of the most important war heroes did their jobs in obscurity.
They were, nevertheless, no less important than any other war hero.
Combine that with the fact that many people probably do not read as much as previous generations, and heroes like Stagg might fade into even more obscurity if their stories are not preserved on film, television or streaming platforms.
That is why it is imperative that Hollywood do these stories correctly, so that moviegoers will walk away with real knowledge and not Hollywood sensationalism.
The acting in “Pressure” is superb.
Moviegoers should expect nothing less from a movie with Fraser as a co-star.
From the acting perspective, the casting in “Pressure” is spot-on.
But not so much from an appearance standpoint.
But because many people will be unaware of the characters, besides Ike, it will not matter as much as it does for a movie like “Michael,” “Elvis” or “Bohemian Rhapsody.”
Moreover, because of the historic nature of “Pressure,” casual moviegoers who only want an escape from reality might shy away from the picture.
However, those who do see it will be educated, entertained and entrenched by the story of a true world hero who has not gotten the flowers that he so richly deserves.
REGAL RATINGS
FOUR CROWNS=EXCELLENT
THREE CROWNS=GOOD
TWO CROWNS=AVERAGE
ONE CROWN=POOR
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