Devotion

Real-Life Korean War Aviation/Integration Story

I will open by advising you to “go see this biographical movie” of friendship, honor, manhood, suspense, disappointment, and fulfillment. And, in my opinion, it shows truth in good taste that is probably appropriate for most of the family. The rating is PG-13 for strong language, smoking, violence/war action. The movie is based on a 2015 book, called Devotion: An Epic Story of Heroism, Friendship, and Sacrifice. The running time is about 2 hours and 22 minutes.

Jesse Brown is the first Black aviator who completed the Navy’s basic training program (Brown relates a few details of what he had to endure.), and he becomes a “close friend” of Tom Hudner (both excellent wingmen in the Korean War), as the Navy makes an attempt to really integrate. Glen Powell portrays Lieutenant Tom Hudner, while Jonathan Majors acts as Ensign Jesse Brown; also having large roles are Christina

Jackson as Daisy Brown, Joe Jonas as Marty Goode, Nick Hargrove as Carol Mohring, Daren Kagasoff as Bill Koenig, Thomas Sadoski as Dick Cevoli, and Spencer Neville as Bo Lavery. Yes, if you are like Themer, you have not heard anything, or at least very little, about the cast and especially supporting cast, but, believe me; they are GOOD!

One “expert” review service rated this show as a “top 80%,” while a rating from the average of more than 500 verified reviews placed it in the “top 93%.” My wife gave it a solid “B” rating, while I was a little more generous with a “B+.” I was a little more impressed with the story than with the professional acting. And while most people I know associate pilots more with the Air Force, this movie shows the heroic sacrifices of some of the Navy’s most heroic and celebrated FIGHTER PILOTS.

I also think the movie does a good job of showing the inner war people have when confronted by conflicts of not only war but also of relations between people of differing ethnicities and beliefs. And, it also brings information about a “forgotten war” to those of us too young to really remember it or to have been affected by it and information about men, who helped to “turn the tide” of an important battle and to help open up the various military opportunities to men of differing ethnicities. Finally, it is not Top Gun, but it does have top notch aerial and fighter jet sequences!