REVIEW: A HOUSE OF DYNAMITE

4/5

House Of Cards

112 Mins. Starring: Idris Elba, Rebecca Ferguson, Gabriel Basso, Jared Harris, Tracy Letts, Anthony Ramos, Moses Ingram, Jonah Hauer-King, Kaitlyn Dever, Greta Lee & Jason Clarke. Screenplay: Noah Oppenheim. Director: Kathryn Bigelow. On: Netflix.

Films for Halloween don't come much scarier than this, but this is no horror. It's real life and the most terrifying film since Steven Soderbegh's 'Contagion'...and that came true in the COVID-19 of 2020s pandemic, so you never know. 'A House Of Dynamite' is set to blow on Netflix after lighting the fuse in select screenings in the UK and the US, earlier this month. You know it's a prestige picture from the successful streaming service, when they give us their cinematic N I.D. (see 'bait; Oscar'), instead of the iconic "tu-DUM" showcase, to open up proceedings of a new fall favourite. This dynamite, dynamic drama is an epic, with an ensemble cast as such, from Oscar winning director Kathryn Bigelow ('The Hurt Locker', 'Zero Dark Thirty', 'Detroit'). And her first film in eight years is right there with the wonder of her best. Scripted by Noah Oppenheim, the former NBC news man, with an apt, explosive last name, who most recently worked with Netflix for another presidential doomsday scenario, in the 'Zero Day' series starring Robert De Niro.

In this house of cards, it's Idris Elba who plays president, reminding you of a much better one when he walks into a basketball area, nuclear football in tow, to crowd cheers and 'In The Air Tonight' by Phil Collins, sounding like his theme song. All before shooting hoops with WNBA Chicago Sky superstar Angel Reese. But there's something coming in the sky that could make the Windy City nickname of Chi-town the understatement of the year. As this apocalyptic thriller concerns, the U.S. government navigating a response to a nuclear missile launched, without knowing who is responsible for this attack. This is as real and as close to home as it gets this winter. As the introduction in writing will tell you, how different things are these days after the Cold War put an end to firing off ammunition like hot takes on Twitter. Now, we have "leaders" on X with their fingers on the button, just ready to press those who push theirs. It all sounds so immature and juvenile, but these are not children's games. And Bigelow's big picture shows you just how huge the ramifications of this nonsense could be. And in this movie, the president actually appears to be halfway competent.

With 'Zero Dark' and 'Hurt Locker' realism in its modern warfare, 'House Of Dynamite' was nominated for the Golden Lion at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival. Sure, it talks more than it walks, but, like 'Oppenheimer', this is the most interesting and compelling drama since Aaron Sorkin had 'The West Wing' staff walk with his words. Anchored by an amazing Rebecca Ferguson performance that will have you reaching for your nearest and dearest, this film takes you to all sorts of situation rooms, as the critical countdown is told from many different perspectives. Kudos to the great Tracy Letts, for making this his general own, like Helen Mirren in 'Eye In The Sky'. Amongst the best of the best, like Jason Clarke and a heartbreaking Jared Harris (for his scene with Kaitlyn Dever). Even, somewhat underused actors in this plate spin, make their mark. Anthony Ramos ('In The Heights', 'A Star Is Born'), Moses Ingram ('The Queen's Gambit', 'Obi-Wan Kenobi'), Greta Lee ('Past Lives', 'Tron: Ares'). But it is Netflix's 'Night Agent' Gabriel Basso that makes this movie his own. All before, Elba electrifies the third act with his charm, after appearing vocally cantankerous for the first one. His compelling conversation with the football's quarterback (Jonah Hauer-King, brilliant) will stay with you long after the film ends. But in an ambiguous ending, will the world? That's up for us to decide. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: 'Zero Dark Thirty', 'Eye In The Sky', 'Contagion'.