Pressure, which centers on the 72 hours before D-Day, is a handsomely mounted film with scenes that intensify the drama significantly.
Filmmaker Anthony Maras has crafted a sturdy WWII drama with Oscar winner Brendan Fraser as Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower. Fraser acts opposite Andrew Scott, who portrays Captain James Stagg, a meteorological officer who must predict when a fierce rainstorm is coming in order to initiate the attack.
You will feel the tension dripping from the screen as characters must decide the fates of countless lives within very brief periods of nerve-wracking intensity.
The score elevates this film. Volker Bertelmann creates a devastating and frightening atmosphere, which has audiences in total suspense despite knowing the outcome of the situation.
The battle scenes feature rip-roaring intensity in such a way that the viewer will be emotionally involved in the action as it unfolds. It is where the Oscar-nomination-worthy score plays in and moves the audience with its powerful influence.
This movie is also proof that we should never underestimate Brendan Fraser — ever. His Eisenhower is a man full of ambition, held hostage by self-doubts that he can execute the perfect attack on those who threaten his country’s existence. He’s a born leader, and Fraser needs to do more movies to give audiences a taste of the talent he possesses.
Watching Fraser play Eisenhower is watching a great actor disappear into a character that the performer so perfectly captures.
Pressure gives Fraser the chance to act up a “storm” of emotions as Andrew Scott’s character plans to thwart the ideas of those on the wrong side. Some of the best scenes in the film’s first half focus on Eisenhower being forthcoming, fearful, and ambitious, possibly to a fault.
The actor was an exceptional choice to portray Eisenhower, a man who was on the edge of a very important decision that needed to be made based on how much he trusted the glorified and dignified weatherman, Captain Stagg.
Eisenhower also has an interesting rapport with Captain James Stagg, a man of integrity. Scott doesn’t have a showy role as Fraser does, but he is nevertheless dynamite. His character bounces off Fraser’s on-screen energy with results that make the film a nail-biter and a rousing success, simultaneously.
The supporting cast includes Damian Lewis, Kerry Condon, and the spectacularly compelling Chris Messina as Irving Krick.
Kerry Condon doesn’t falter in her pivotal supporting role as Kay Summersby, a woman who offers unsolicited but wise advice throughout the film. Chris Messina and Damian Lewis give a valiant attempt to steal scenes from Fraser and the superb Scott.
You can’t compare the battle scenes in Pressure to those in any other movie. They stand out to fit the context of this story in this particular film. All the build-up is masterfully conveyed with the very last minute before D-Day begins being, perhaps, the most suspenseful moment of the movie.
Pressure is also a moving human story as Scott’s character must get home to his wife, who is about to give birth to their child. One will sympathize with the characters in this film and mourn the loss of those lives that were lost to end the suffering that the war was unjustly causing.
It isn’t the best war film ever, but it’s a competently made one. Sometimes, with a movie like this, less is more in regard to how many central characters are present.
With fewer characters, the movie becomes more focused and more accessible to the audience, who will feel like they were right alongside these people, watching their ambitious and ultimately triumphant story unfold.
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Pressure premieres only in theaters on May 29th.
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Thomas Duffy
Thomas Duffy is a Critics Choice member who has written film reviews for most of his life, starting at age 11 when he crafted his first full length movie critique on the film, "Roxanne," a Cyrano story featuring Steve Martin. As a result of that review and other movie obsessive writing, Thomas was awarded a creative writing award in sixth grade. Thomas is the proud author of nine books, including two highly acclaimed novels, "To Never Know" and "Social Work." Thomas can be found on X (formerly known as Twitter) or at a New York City movie theater watching the latest hit or independent movie. You can also run into him at Tribeca or at the New York Film Festival.