New Release: Heart of the Beast
I just knew this damn movie would make me cry...
I will reveal later in the post whether the dog lives or not, so if you want that spoiler, go ahead and scroll down to the end; I'll wait.
Heart of the Beast, starring Brad Pitt, is about a Special Forces soldier who lives a solitary life with his combat-trained partner, Odin. Odin, like Pitt's character, James, has seen the worst of war, been wounded, and is now suffering from PTSD like too many of our human and furry veterans do to this day. While these two are alone in the Alaskan wilderness, they are in a plane crash, forced to survive in the wilderness while trying to make it 58 miles to the nearest road and help.
Since we'll deal with spoilers in a bit, let's start with what doesn't work in this film. I wouldn't say this is Pitt's best acting work because his costar pretty much steals the spotlight. Even though the ending should make the most stoic tear up a bit, there just isn't much meat in his role, but these survival movies really aren't too acting-focused. The only other issue I really have with the movie is the terrible CGI animals. I know it would be tough to get a real bear and wolves to work on command, but the CGI is a bit distracting at times.
What works: the environment and scenery are gorgeous. Trekking through this type of setting is like its own character. A brief appearance by J.K. Simmons is entertaining, but most of the movie focuses on Pitt and Odin. And let's face it...the dog is the star. It's a beautiful, well-trained, amazing dog (can you tell I love dogs?) and every scene has you wanting the absolute best for this war-tired soldier. Not to mention, it's appealing to the Academy Awards to add a best animal category.
SPOILER ALERT: Odin lives.
That said, you'll still be sobbing at the end of this movie. The end is raw and as emotional as a story like this can get. Bring tissues and be prepared to use them.
Solid movie. Not sure if it's worth a full-price ticket, but I wouldn't talk you out of one either. Definitely go see it on the big screen and listen to everyone sniffle as the movie wraps up. 3.5/5
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