"Did you ever think you'd be in a squadron with a colored aviator?" That's a casual remark from a navy pilot in DEVOTION, a movie about real-life characters who flew in the Korean War of 1950. This true story centers on the life and landmark contributions of Jesse Brown, the navy's first Black aviator, and his fellow pilot Tom Hudner. Hudner is white and devoted to Brown,. Brown is devoted to his naval career. Brown is played by the handsome Jonathan Majors who was fabulous in the 2019 anti-gentrification indie movie, THE LAST BLACK MAN IN SAN FRANCISCO and in the one-season HBO series, LOVECRAFT COUNTRY. Hudner is played by the also handsome Glen Powell who scored a big success in TOP GUN: MAVERICK with Tom Cruise.
Hudner is white and well aware of the racism Brown may face. Within his squadron, Brown is treated with friendship. It's civilians and members of other military branches who give him grief. Jesse has a good, playful marriage with a wonderful woman. They have a little girl and a nice house in Rhode Island where the story begins. He starts to dance with his little girl and wife to a record that's playing one night. The white lady next door calls the cops and complains of the noise. Hudner has been a guest in their house and has become a friend of the Jesse Brown family.
Jesse has the support of his wife, other Black navy men, Hudner and men in his squadron. He's girded his loins to be ready to face any racist crap. The squadron has to train for intense duty in Korea. The story will take us from Rhode Island to Italy to France to Korea. The aerial sequences are all excellent and exciting. All the talk and explanation of the dangerous Korean conflict gets a bit dull but the aerial sequences make up for that. The movie runs about 2 hours and 15 minutes. I feel it could've worked very well at a little under 2 hours. The devotion Tom Hudner has for Jesse Brown often feels like a love story between the two wingmen. Tom will never leave Jesse. Jonathan Majors and Glen Powell connect and the two actors work quite well together.
Christina Jackson takes the small supporting role of Daisy, Jesse's wife, and does a lovely job with it. She understands his devotion to his job and loves his devotion to her. One of my favorite parts of the film is when the navy flyers are in Cannes, France. They all have the unspoken understanding that some places may not serve Jesse because he's Black. However, he takes a walk alone on the beach and meets -- a gorgeous young Hollywood star named Elizabeth Taylor. She's instantly charmed by him and invites him to her party that night in one of the deluxe clubs. "Tell them Elizabeth Taylor invited you," she wisely says. She's his ticket past discrimination at the front door.
I have no idea if that really happened. I never read the book that inspired the film. However, one does have the feeling the liberal Elizabeth definitely would have done such a thing. Jesse Brown and his wingmen do dress up and do attend the party. They were greeted warmly by the movie star. Elizabeth Taylor is played by Serinda Swan.
As for Jonathan Majors -- he is an outstanding actor and...Lord, have mercy is that man handsome. Can't Hollywood add him to one of its money-making movie franchises? Cast him a Batman? Those lips coming through that Bat-mask would carbonate a lot of moviegoer hormones. Just my opinion.
No comments:
Post a Comment