A House of Dynamite

Synopsis: Radars at Fort Greely, Alaska, detect a nuclear missile. The president and his entourage must

use the limited time they have to try to shoot down the missile before it reaches Chicago.

Movie Review: 

"A House of Dynamite" is directed by Kathryn Bigelow, and it's an original political thriller featuring a huge, talented cast. The direction is spot on, and the first 30 minutes are absolutely gripping, creating a terrifyingly realistic atmosphere that had me on edge. Rebecca Ferguson stars as Captain Olivia Walker, who leads the war room, and she truly shines in this role. Every moment she's on screen is captivating, making her the most compelling character for me. The standout part of the film is definitely the initial 30 to 40 minutes, where Olivia monitors a nuclear missile aimed at Chicago, which could trigger WWIII. It was intense and kept me on the edge of my seat, making it the best opening of the year in my opinion. Idris Elba, playing the President of the United States, also impressed me with his charming and charismatic portrayal as he grapples with the missile crisis, adding to the tension. Gabriel Basso, as Deputy National Security Advisor Jake Baerington, really steals the spotlight with an emotional and heartbreaking performance, trying to convince the President against retaliation to avoid starting WWIII, which made his character both significant and intriguing. Jared Harris delivers a solid performance as Secretary of Defense Reid Baker, who, despite limited screen time, plays a crucial role in the story. The film boasts an impressive cast, including Greta Lee, Antony Ramos, Moses Ingram, Jason Clarke, Willa Fitzgerald, Kyle Allen, and Kaitlyn Dever, all of whom give decent performances, but unfortunately, many of them are just on the phone delivering lines, which felt a bit disappointing. My main issue with the movie is that after the first 30 minutes, it tends to get repetitive, especially when new characters are introduced amidst the same ongoing events, which felt a bit underwhelming. The ending was also quite disappointing, lacking a clear resolution that left me feeling cheated. Overall, "A House of Dynamite" has its riveting moments and great performances, but it also has its flaws. I am giving it a 3.5/5  

Director: Kathryn Bigelow 

Cast: Rebecca Ferguson, Idris Elba, Gabriel Basso, Jared Harris, Tracy Letts, Anthony Ramos, Moses Ingram, Greta Lee, Jonah Hauer-King, Willla Fitzgerald, Malach Beasley, Aminah Nieves, Brian Tee, Kyle Allen, Catherine Missal, Neal Bledsoe, Renee Elise Goldsberry, Kaitlyn Dever, Angel Reese, Brittany O’Grady and Jason Clarke 

Runtime: 113 Minutes