From the “did you know” department: D-Day was actually supposed to take place one day earlier than it did. After a “dress rehearsal” for the invasion that went HORRIBLY wrong, General Eisenhower was very cautious about sending more young men to die and then possibly lose World War II to the Nazis, so every detail was painstakingly looked at. With the world watching, even the weather had to be taken into consideration since there would be assaults of land, sea, AND air involved. The days leading up to the turning of the tide (no pun intended) in the war is where we get Pressure.
Brendan Fraser plays “Ike,” who brings in Scottish meteorology expert James Stagg (Andrew Scott) to consult with an international team planning the D-Day Invasion to see if June 5th is the day to go… but he wants it within twenty-four hours of Stagg’s arrival on the Friday before. Between clashing with Eisenhower’s top man in General Irving Krick (Chris Messina), a brash leadership style that does not go over well with the men, a forecast that no one else wants to believe, and a pregnant wife he cannot check on due to the secrecy of their work, the clock is ticking and the risk is high.
On the surface, this film is filled with intrigue and intensity in a different style of “behind the story” tale, but in presentation, there was a bit to be desired here. About a third of the way through, I started thinking “This might be better served as a stage production over a film,” which I found to be true as it is based on a play. Without a lot of sets needed and archival footage used alongside one big battle scene, don’t expect a lot of action here.
Fraser is serviceable as Ike, but I think he makes a pretty bold choice by simply acting the part with no commitment to trying to envelop the man that would go on to become President of the United States given in no small part to his success at Normandy. I can’t say it’s a bad performance, but there is no real immersion here alongside a cast that also includes Damian Lewis as a foil to both he and Stagg, wanting to go in no matter what. Overall, everyone does their part, but the stakes were only really ramped up at a couple of points.
Anthony Maras (Hotel Mumbai) directs the crap out of this alongside cinematographer Jamie Ramsay to keep that part of the story intact. I cannot say it is “gorgeous” due to the limited real estate that Ramsay has to work with, but he does do a great job given what he has been given.
There is also A LOT of meteorology data used here, and if that level of “weather geek” stuff stays intact, a bit longer of a run time than an hour and forty minutes would serve Pressure better to balance for those of us that may have gotten bogged down in the minutiae that while is helpful, I am not sure is necessary. It does get distracting every once and again, but I was also not pulled out of it at any point. For those that are into that type of thing, I would be curious to find out their thoughts (and I know a couple of people that might be able to answer that question for me).
All in all, Pressure is not one that I expect to see in the thoughts of award voters come that time, but it also will not wind up in the infamous “Bottom Ten” of 2026 when we get there. This is a film that could be enjoyed just as much in your living room as it would be in a theater setting; it’s just going to be a matter of preference.