Not since Leonardo DiCaprio in The Revenant has an actor taken such grueling punishment while battling the elements. That’s what happens to Brad Pitt in Heart of the Beast, a new survival drama that has a heart to match its intensity.
Pitt stars as Retired Special Forces officer James Belmont, who flies his plane in the Alaskan territory alongside his combat dog Odin. Belmont has a heart attack during a flight and crash-lands in some water. Both get temporarily separated, but they find each other and have to make an odyssey to find the nearest civilization.
Both Belmont and Odin suffer from PTSD, especially the latter, who has nightmares of previous combat. Thankfully, Belmont is well-equipped with outdoor skills, and he also knows how to keep Odin calm in their unknown surroundings. Sometimes, when Belmont is injured, he has to rely on Odin, and this canine has a few tricks up his sleeve (if he had any).
Director David Ayer shows his flair and style particularly in the wilderness sequences where danger corners both Belmont and Odin at every turn. He shoots some of these sequences in the natural world, giving us a real sense of the jeopardy these two face as they fight for survival. One scene involving a wooden bridge is a precarious, crucial moment that demonstrates Odin’s impressive survival strategies.
Pitt and the canine display genuine chemistry that feels believable and riveting on screen, where they spend most of the film. They know how to be resourceful and cunning when faced with the obstacles, yet there’s plenty of screen time for them to be buddy-buddy and earn some sincere and even lighthearted moments.
As mentioned, Pitt takes a beating in this film, in ways that remind me of DiCaprio in The Revenant, though it’s toned down for the PG-13 rating. Nevertheless, the movie pushes the boundaries of his injuries, such as when he has to reset a broken bone. It’s a pretty gnarly sequence.
Audiences who are suckers for a story about a man and his dog will find everything they could possibly want, and this movie delivers. It’s pretty much a straightforward survivalist drama with a solid performance from Pitt and his canine companion who delivers equally solid work.
Their work makes Heart of the Beast a worthy effort.
Grade: A-
(Rated PG-13 for violence, peril, bloody/injury images and some language.)
Reviewer’s Note: I saw this movie at Liberty Cinemas in Hinesville.
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