A star rating of 4 out of 5.
In a return after eight years, Kathryn Bigelow presents A House of Dynamite, a film following her intense urban narrative Detroit. This new project, initially screened at the Venice Film Festival and later released on Netflix in autumn, is on par with her most exceptional works.
An intense, nerve-wracking drama set in the atomic era, this work offers a multifaceted exploration of the critical moments as an incoming missile, referred to as an “object” in technical terms, penetrates U.S. airspace.
After the Cold War, nations strove to dismantle the nuclear arms race through political accords, but it appears that time has moved on. Today, nations such as the U.S., Russia, China, North Korea, and India possess nuclear weapons. The question remains: who is prepared to initiate a nuclear attack?
In the movie directed by Bigelow, with a screenplay penned by Noah Oppenheim, an unknown adversary initiates a solitary and unexpected missile attack on American soil.
As I watch the unfolding chaos on screen, a question echoes through my mind: “Is this all too real?” The realization creeps in, this isn’t just a simulation – it’s a full-blown crisis. The action primarily takes place within the White House Situation Room, where Captain Olivia Walker, brilliantly portrayed by Rebecca Ferguson, struggles to regain control. Amidst the chaos, her heart heavy with concern, she knows that her husband and young son are back at home, just like millions of others, teetering on the brink of danger.
Ground-Based Interceptors (GBIs) are deployed, yet, as one person remarks, stopping a nuclear missile mid-flight is analogous to “trying to hit a fast-moving bullet with another bullet.
In simpler terms, the plot spans approximately one-third of the movie’s duration. Afterward, Bigelow shifts the setting, revisiting events from various viewpoints. Notable among these are characters such as Jared Harris as the Secretary of Defense and Idris Elba as the President of the United States. During this time, the President can be seen visiting a sports arena, where he warmly greets young basketball players amid thunderous applause and the pulsating rhythm of Phil Collins’ song “In the Air Tonight.
Previously, Bigelow has delved into similar territories, although her 2002 movie, K-19: The Widowmaker, focused on an impending nuclear submarine catastrophe. However, A House of Dynamite offers a much more intense and dynamic atmosphere compared to her previous work.
Absolutely, the movie seems to have similarities with films like Fail Safe and Stanley Kubrick’s satirical Dr. Strangelove. However, Bigelow’s fast-paced narrative and current backdrop give it a refreshingly modern and relevant vibe.
Featuring a carefully selected group of talented actors such as Jason Clarke, who starred in Kathryn Bigelow’s film “Zero Dark Thirty,” and Greta Lee from the series “Past Lives” portraying a character with expertise in North Korean intelligence, this ensemble promises an unforgettable experience.
However, this isn’t a movie where a single standout performance dominates the screen (though Tracy Letts as the formidable general nearly captures that spotlight). Instead, it’s a collaboration of talented actors channeling a unified intensity to breathe life into a chilling narrative.
Offering you an unfiltered perspective on choices that lie with the President, which could potentially trigger a global conflict or defend against more attacks on U.S. soil, it emphasizes the pressing urgency in determining humanity’s destiny.
When faced with the ‘nuclear decision manual’, the President is given two grim options: ‘yield or terminate.’ The manual lays out three approaches – ‘seldom used’, ‘moderate’ and ‘thoroughly cooked,’ as one staff member jokes in an unexpected moment of dark humor.
Despite many scenes in A House of Dynamite unfolding within confined spaces such as rooms filled with large screens, desks, and partially consumed coffee cups, there are expansive instances that resonate deeply, like the image of buses arriving at Raven Rock, Pennsylvania – an underground shelter designed for survival during a nuclear attack.
Without a doubt, Bigelow’s film effectively serves dual purposes – it thrills as intense entertainment while also making a profound anti-nuclear statement.
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2025-09-02 20:34