Only the Brave is a macho and overwrought story based on the real events of a fire fighting team in Arizona aspiring to achieve hotshot status and tackle forest fires.

Hamstrung by two major issues the film is a turgid slog from start to finish. Firstly, it fails to explain what a hotshot crew is with any adequate detail. Secondly it does not have nearly enough fire fighting scenes and when it does it never explains their tactics. I would therefore suggest that prior to watching you investigate both of these points to try and get any enjoyment.

The film features an all star cast (Josh Brolin, Jeff Bridges, Jennifer Connelly and Miles Teller all feature) of actors giving it their blustering all in most scenes but are never really successful in achieving any real drama as a result of these problems.

Clearly the men involved in such a job were brave, it’s just that the film meant to be honouring them is horribly dull.