Now people that know me, will understand that I love a good disaster movie. Most of my teenage years were dominated by burning skyscrapers, earthquakes and 747’s in trouble.
Hell, when I started my film degree, I even wrote an assignment on the role of women in 1970 disaster movies ( I got an A btw)
So I was excited to see Paul Greengrass’ new disaster flick The Lost Bus today.
Based on the true story of the 2018 Paradise Wild Fire, we follow an overwhelmed fire department as they battle a once in a lifetime forrest fire in rural California . Caught up in the drama is a somewhat dejected and troubled school bus driver Kevin McKay ( Michael McConaughey) and a prim teacher Mary Ludwig ( America Ferrera) who are suddenly responsible for the safety of 22 small children
Their journey to safety is an epic and exciting ride, with all of Greengrass’ directorial flourishes on show but as small children in peril on a typically American yellow school bus, is such a stereotype in action ,movies ( Godzilla, Superman, Fabulous Four, Independence Day etc etc etc) much of the drama is cushioned by the knowledge that all will be well
Much more chilling, was an early scene where a small convoy of survivors supervised by a lone fireman are trapped by the fire. They only just escape , by throwing themselves into a small lake as the roaring fire flows over them, and the sequence is stunningly shot and terrifyingly acted.
McConaughey ( not an actor I like) is very impressive here and I also liked Ashlee Atkinson’s performance as his tough talking and acting boss Ruby.
A good watch
Not my type of film, but I had an adrenaline rush whilst reading your review! xx
ReplyDeleteTo be honest the kids got on my nerves
DeleteSounds gripping ... but perhaps too frenetic for me!
ReplyDeleteThe editing and filming WAS somewhat frenetic
DeleteBeing caught in a wildfire is rather frenetic. Used to do control burns and had one get out of control when it hit an illegal chemical dump - 6 barrels of heaven only knows what. Will never forget how my heart sank when I realized the sand was on fire.
DeleteI sat through many calamity movies in past decades but may give this a miss simply due the real calamities here (Americans: VOTE, it matters bigly {shutter}) and my current age. No heart trouble yet, but why rock the boat?
ReplyDeleteAm glad you enjoyed the movie!
Hugs!
I haven’t been for a week or two, I was having withdrawal symptoms
DeleteI haven't been for a decade or so!
DeleteMore hugs!
I too have always loved disaster movies and will definitely watch this one when it comes round plus I do like M.Mc
ReplyDeleteIt needed some more characters and less children
DeleteMy friend's grandmother had to run into the sea with her small children and wait out a forest fire. This was when there were small homesteads all along the coast at the edge of vast forests. Very isolated, help would not be coming.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness
DeleteI too love love love a good disaster movie. Irwin Allen had many good ones. My favorite being The Towering Inferno. He stacked his movies with talents. I also loved the Poseidon Adventure. A good chuckle watching Stella Stevens and Shelly Winters when they had to go threw a pipe to get to another part of the ship. Stella Stevens says "IM GOING NEXT, In case ole fat ass gets stuck."
ReplyDeleteI recall Dante's Peak being pretty thrilling too.
Delete“ if fat ass gets stuck I won’t be caught behind her”
DeleteAnd her best line
“ panties what else do I need?”
"panties what else do I need?”
DeleteI know just how she feels. lol!
Everyone on the Arts A101 Course wrote their practice essay on serious films and plays about politics.
ReplyDeleteThe only thing I had seen in weeks was Postman Pat and Jess at the Hippodrome with Playgroup. I remember adding a rant about the long queue of mums and toddlers because of the inadequate proportion of male to female facilities!
An “A” too.
Loved this xx
Deletei once saw a film called Bus 174 at a fringe event..... documentary style thing that was fairly at the forefront of piecing cctv together and stuff..... quite a hard watch but probably the best bus film i've seen
ReplyDeleteGreengrass is a good director and McConaughey can be a surprisingly good actor, given some of his output. So I'm glad to read that this movie is worth watching!
ReplyDeleteI rarely go to the movies. Mostly just watch movies if they come to my streaming services.
ReplyDeleteI quite enjoy a good disaster movie - as long as it all works out in the end. Haven't been to the cinema in years though. They all come on TV eventually.
ReplyDeleteI just saw a trailer for this film the other day. I haven't been to a movie theater in years, but I noticed that I can watch it on apple tv.
ReplyDeleteIt's Matthew, not Michael McConaughey.
ReplyDeleteTjank u xx
DeleteNot my kind of film and I am not a fan of McConaughey but I am happy you took yourself to see it. Gigi
ReplyDeleteAs a volunteer firey, I won't be watching this!
ReplyDeleteThat's a pretty frightening scenario when it involves trying to save children under such odds. Sounds well done though and I like the experience of just being in a cinema with others.
ReplyDeleteLooks like a good one. You did mean Matthew Mcconaughey, not Michael? Or does he have a brother?
ReplyDeleteI did indeed
DeleteIt sounds a bit too frantic for me at the moment, I'll wait until it magically appears on my television. Then I can shovel homemade popcorn into my mouth as the tenson rises!!
ReplyDeleteThank goodness you liked it.... I'd like to go see it... not sure if its going to theaters here in the US or maybe not many... as i see it advertised on some streaming services... I'll have to take another look for it.. Thanks for the review John... i don't always agree with your reviews but they are always very well done and appreciated.. Hugs! deb
ReplyDeleteIt’s an old fashioned potboiler
DeleteParadise is about 30 miles north of me and that fire was terrifying even from here. Paradise was a town of misfits and free thinkers. They loved living among the pine trees. The town was on top of a ridge with only two ways in and out. There was a senior citizen mobile home park and several seniors were trapped because the road in and out was blocks. They died in their cars. Animal rescuers worked for over two years to rescue cats that had survived (some with horrible burns). The town is only now slowly being rebuilt. So sad.
ReplyDeleteThank you for that insight , thank u
DeleteMy son inlaw’s parents live in Paradise and they got out with nothing and their house burned to the ground. They were secondary school teachers and not misfits, nor free thinkers…just ordinary folks that raised 3 boys in a mountain town where they could afford a home. They rebuilt and still live there.
ReplyDeleteweavinfool