THE MOVIES — I feel like every year we get a movie that flies under the radar and ends up being the best surprise of the year. In 2015, for me, it was “Ex Machina.” In 2016 it was “Hunt for the Wilderpeople,” and so far in 2017 that movie is “Only the Brave.”

I wasn’t thinking much of this movie as the release approached. I have never been the biggest Miles Teller fan, and I just hadn’t heard too much about the movie. When I saw a couple of trailers for the film, my curiosity was teased. Then I went to see the actual film. I’ll get into it in more detail, but suffice it to say “Only the Brave” is a fantastic movie that likely too few people will see.

The film recounts the true story of firefighters in Prescott, Arizona, known as the Granite Mountain Hotshots. Hotshots are known for fighting wildfires on the frontlines and protecting wildlife, homes and people all over the country.

The Granite Mountain Hotshots were a unique group that had to fight for their right to be considered a hotshot crew and did everything they could to prove themselves. The movie chronicles their struggle to be recognized as hotshots. This makes up a great majority of the movie and that’s OK. Watching the evolution of the team, as well as the individuals within the team and the people supporting them, makes for a movie that feels real and relatable.

Here’s what makes “Only the Brave” the best surprise of the 2017 movie year:

Performances

Remember when I said Miles Teller wasn’t exactly my favorite actor? Well, I need to change my tune because he’s proved me wrong several times. The perfect example is “Whiplash,” and he has now made me a fan thanks to “Only the Brave.”

Teller is impressive, but he’s also bolstered by solid performances all around him. As always Josh Brolin stands out, as do Jeff Bridges, Jennifer Connelly, James Badge Dale, Geoff Stults and Taylor Kitsch.

The actors are all portraying real-life characters, and they seem to approach it with reverence and respect and that really shines through. It adds a realness and emotion that is rarely felt so strongly in film. I’m not saying this is going to be winning any Academy Awards in the acting category, but overall the entire cast does a fantastic job, which totally immerses you in the world of “Only the Brave.”

You actually care

This section has a lot to do with the performances, but it also owes a lot of credit to the writing. There are dozens of characters in this film, but somehow you care about all of them. Sometimes when I watch a movie I barely have any interest in the main character, but in “Only the Brave,” I’m emotionally connected to everyone from the leads to the people who have a total of about five minutes of screen time.

By the time the movie ends, you feel like you have a personal relationship with all of these men and women and you care for each and every one of them. Rarely has there been a movie that creates this kind of emotional connection to the entire cast.

Beautifully terrifying

The film is beautifully shot and shows off the terrifying power and beautiful grace of fire. The movie has several fire scenes, as you can imagine, and you can feel your heart race as your eyes drink in the oddly beautiful image of the orange flames devouring the green landscape.

Director Joseph Kosinski does a fantastic job showing the danger these firefighters put themselves in to protect both their land and their neighbors. Their sacrifices are powerfully portrayed as we see from a safe distance what fighting a wildfire would be like.

It stays with you

I cannot stop thinking about this movie and I cannot stop recommending it. Once the screen went dark, I just sat in the theater staring at the empty screen. My brain would not stop and it still hasn’t. The movie sticks to your ribs and makes you want to get home and hug your family and send a “thank you” note to your local firefighters.

The movie isn’t something you can just let go, but rather it’s something that stays with you and that’s a good thing.

Conclusion

I loved this movie and it’s really hard to explain why it’s so good if you haven’t seen it. I don’t want to give away any spoilers and I don’t want to hype it up too much, but just know I’m looking forward to seeing the movie again and taking people with me to enjoy their reactions.

I never tell my readers they “have to see” something or that they “have to avoid it,” but this will be one of the closest things to “have to see” I’ll give you. The movie is powerful, memorable and the type of reminder of bravery, love and sacrifice we, as a world, need right now.

I highly recommend “Only the Brave” and hope people go see this movie that isn’t getting the interest it rightly deserves.

“Only the Brave” is rated PG-13 for thematic content, some sexual references, language and drug material.

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