Movie Review: DEVOTION...

Earlier today, I watched the Korean War biopic Devotion at AMC theaters.

This film is about two U.S. Navy pilots—an African American ensign named Jesse Brown (played by Jonathan Majors) and an Irish American lieutenant named Tom Hudner (portrayed by Glen Powell)—who became good friends during a Cold War conflict in Asia and amidst racial tensions in America.

Devotion is your standard war film; and the latest that depicts the immense bravery of African American aviators who served their country well during two major wars even though they faced intense discrimination at home. The previous flick that comes to mind is the 2012 movie Red Tails (starring Terrence Howard and Cuba Gooding Jr.)...which is about the Tuskegee pilots of World War II, and was the first film directed by George Lucas since 2005's Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith.

What makes Devotion unique are its unofficial ties to this year's top-grossing film, Top Gun: Maverick. On the one hand, you have Glen Powell—who played Hangman in the Joseph Kosinski-directed blockbuster—portraying a fighter pilot on the big screen for the second time in 2022. And on the other hand, the aerial coordinator for Maverick, Kevin LaRosa II, utilized his services and aircraft cameras for Devotion as well.

The similaries between Devotion and the Top Gun sequel begin and end at Glen Powell as well as spectacular and authentic aerial sequences. Devotion honors Ensign Jesse Brown...who fought valiantly in his Corsair until it was shot down in North Korea on December 4, 1950.

While the corpse of Ensign Brown remained inside his aircraft when U.S. Navy jets napalmed it (as well as the Corsair of Lieutenant Hudner, who intentionally crash-landed it near Brown's fighter plane before trying to save his life) so it won't fall into enemy hands, that didn't stop Hudner from trying to visit his friend's crash site in North Korea almost 63 years later...in July of 2013.

The story of Jesse Brown is quite remarkable. One interesting tidbit that was featured in Devotion is the fact that he met Elizabeth Taylor (portrayed by Serinda Swan in this movie) in France—and was invited by her to a Cannes casino even though French personnel initially wouldn't let him enter the establishment.

Despite meeting a beautiful and legendary star like Taylor, Brown remained devoted to his wife Daisy (played by Christina Jackson) and their young daughter Pam.

Devotion is a story about love, determination, loyalty and bravery. Brown and Hudner are both heroes...and this movie did a commendable job depicting this inspirational friendship on the big screen.

Rest in peace, Ensign Brown and Lieutenant Hudner (who passed away on November 13, 2017). Your brave exploits have fittingly been immortalized in cinema.