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We’ve had good guys saving the world, good guys surviving the end of the world, and now we have good guys walking the American wilderness with their best friends.
As a dog lover, it’s been a year since being signed to man’s best friend and I’m totally here for it. The latest good guy to grace our screens is Odin, who stars alongside Brad Pitt heart of the beastA simple, down-to-earth survival thriller directed by David Ayer (Fury, Suicide Squad and clear – ignore these last two).
After surviving a plane crash, former Special Forces soldier James Belmont (Brad Pitt) finds himself in the unforgiving Alaskan wilderness with his war dog, Odin. Together they must battle the elements and dangers hidden in the landscape, facing conditions that would likely spell the end for any small man or dog.
In just over 90 minutes, heart of the beast Another example of Hollywood slowly chipping away at a long-running epic. Looks like this year’s dinosaur thriller End of Oak StreetIt moves quickly through a relatively straightforward plot written by Cameron Alexander in his feature film screenplay debut.
And while the plot is admittedly light on complexity—a man and a dog fighting for their lives in the wilderness—at its heart is a beautiful relationship. The bond between Belmont and Odin is joyful in its loudest moments and deeply emotional in its quieter moments. In fact, some of the scenes in the last third are really beautiful and will certainly give dog owners a hard time Paws For thought, next time they would hug their four-legged companions.
Odin steals the show
Pitt is his ever-reliable self as Belmont, a retired soldier struggling with PTSD, but make no mistake: this movie belongs to Odin, and Pitt knows it. Starring four different dogs in the film, this German Shepherd is the absolute star. With Jasper this year Dog starsOdin is one of the most memorable movies to grace our screens in recent years.
It’s also worth noting how impressively small the cast is, with only four characters throughout the film. J. is one of them. Even with limited screen time and a relatively small role, Simmons brings a quiet depth to the character, reminding you that you don’t need an expansive ensemble to make a lasting impression.
Unfortunately, while the film beautifully portrays the human-dog relationship, it sometimes falls apart when it comes to the script. At its best, the writing serves admirably; At worst, it’s completely ridiculous.
Are we really to believe that an injured soldier and his canine companion can take on an entire pack of wolves and live to tell the tale? It seems so. And despite Belmont and Odin’s military credentials, the scene is incredibly improbable. Even Liam Neeson left a little more to the imagination of the audience.
Fortunately, there is plenty to admire elsewhere. very similar Dog stars before heart of the beast is a stunning, landscape-oriented film. Ayer captures the sheer scale and vastness of the desert, making the environment feel as hostile as anything Belmont and Odin encounter along the way. The landscapes shot in New Zealand provide a particularly beautiful backdrop to the Alaskan wilderness.
Landscapes worth getting lost in
ultimately, heart of the beast This is a movie that every dog owner will find something to relate to, and that emotional connection is one of the most powerful tools a movie can have in its arsenal.
With a clever script that I won’t spoil here, the film opens in such a way that a sense of collective calm washes over the audience. It’s a nice touch, even if the script doesn’t quite maintain the same level of maturity.
But maybe it’s okay. heart of the beast It’s not a film that needs to be distinguished by logic or explored for its weirder moments. This is a film to watch with your heart, not your head.
A delightful canine companion film that, against all odds, you’ll definitely want.
