TIFF 2022: Devotion Review

This will be one of many reviews during this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, to keep up with our latest coverage, click here.

J. D. Dillard’s Devotion tells the story of naval officer Jesse Brown, an African-American aviator who is distinguished with being the first black aviator to complete the U.S. Navy’s basic flight training program. The film stars the great Jonathan Majors as Brown, and Glen Powell, who just can’t seem to get out of a plane this year. The film chronicles Brown’s journey and struggle, not only against the enemy in combat, but against those he works alongside as well. The film is set around the onset of the Korean war, and features a supporting cast including Christina Jackson, Nick Hargrove, Spencer Neville, Thomas Sadoski, and Joe Jonas.

At its heart, Devotion is much more a character study than it is a war film, and rightfully so. It is hard to put out a film about fighter pilots in the same year as Top Gun: Maverick. However, these are two very different films with very different focuses but that being said, it’s hard to match them up in terms of set pieces and action sequences when the bar has been set so high. This film still manages to be riveting in its aerial sequences. The WW2-style planes have a unique sound to them can be felt throughout thus adding to the experience. Meanwhile, the visuals are effective, and the film does feature exciting flight sequences that complement the deeper, character moments that the film focuses much more heavily on.

As a character, Brown is stoic to his peers, but shows a different side with his wife, becoming softer and more playful. The film is centered around his relationship with his wingman, Tom Hudner (Powell). There is importance in their arc and how it relates to Brown’s usual outer presentation to his peers. The progression is where the film’s main struggle lies and is the heart of this character study. The softer side of Brown that he shows only to his wife is one that the film should have contained more of. A more balanced representation would only have benefited the film’s third act. The highlight of the film is undoubtedly is Majors as Browne as he delivers another performance that is sure to further compliment his incredibly impressive repertoire of performances. He is never bad here, and he absolutely owns the role. Audiences will feel for him, and have their hearts break for him.

Devotion has its clear strengths, being its performances, but it also has areas that it should have featured more of. In the end, it is an effective historical biopic that features good action sequences and a powerhouse performance from its lead.

*still courtesy of Sony Pictures

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Brennan Dubé

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