‘Pressure’ Reveals Untold Weather Battle That Shaped D-Day

The most consequential battle of World War II almost got rained out.

That stunning truth powers “Pressure,” a D-Day film from an angle sure to catch most movie goers flat-footed. The drama zeroes in on three key figures in the runup to the Normandy invasion, plus a fourth whose quiet strength brought balance to their struggles..

The result? One of the year’s most invigorating stories showcasing a side of the war many never knew.

That’s why historical dramas matter, right?

Andrew Scott stars as James Stagg, a meteorologist hired by the Allies to strike a decisive blow against the Nazi regime. How? Stagg must predict if the weather in France will be conducive to an invasion meant to recapture the country and strike a blow against Hitler’s minions.

We’re used to glancing at an app to sense what the next few days will bring, weather-wise. And, more or less, the predictions are on target.

Mostly, to quote Newt from “Aliens.”

Meteorology was far less sophisticated in 1944, turning the science into a near-guessing game based on less definable data.

The Allied forces’ resident expert, Irving Krick (Chris Messina), thinks the weather will be just good enough to launch the invasion on June 5. Full steam ahead!

Stagg disagrees, giving General Dwight Eisenhower (Brendan Fraser) the mother of all decisions.

Yes, a major World War II drama finds its heroes poring over maps, releasing weather balloons and arguing over storm comps. It’s hardly the stuff of high drama, at least at first blush, but director Anthony Maras (“Hotel Mumbai”) keeps the focus on the high stakes poker game that could give Team Hitler the war.

Scott’s Stagg is a curiosity, a soft-spoken soul with zero room for imperfections. He throws his weight around when he first joins the mission, demanding fealty to the task at hand. No joviality on his watch.

Every second counts.

The only one bold enough to stand up to him is his commanding officer.

Fraser’s Ike wants to believe Krick. He’s never let the U.S. Military down before, and his sunny prediction is exactly what the Allies need. Desperately.

Stagg won’t be shaken, not by Ike’s commanding presence nor a very real tragedy that lands mid-movie.

It’s all about duty, honor, sacrifice and personal responsibility. That isn’t just a tribute to the World War II generation but a gentle rebuke to modern society.

No victims or blame games. The buck stops with every consequential character on screen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Pressure (@pressuremovie)

Few filmmakers would dare out-Spielberg “Saving Private Ryan,” featuring the most grueling war sequence in Hollywood history. “Pressure” evokes that meat grinder of an invasion in ways that flatter what “Pressure” explores.

You can’t have a battle royale over weather forecasting without a glimpse of the battle in question. We need to see some of what that invasion entailed, even if the sequences are shorter and less ghastly to witness.

World War II films can easily let female characters get overshadowed. Not Kerry Condon, cast as Ike’s assistant. She’s the film’s maternal presence, nurturing the squabbling men as needed and nudging them to deliver their best.

She’s nestled expertly into the story without feeling like an afterthought or GirlBoss addendum. The actress’s natural ability to underplay her characters suits the period and material.

That said, it takes a few scenes to process Fraser as Ike. Not only was the future president much smaller than the towering “Mummy” alum, but we’re not used to seeing the actor this way.

Yes, “The Whale” offered the ultimate physical makeover, but his Ike identity remains hard to initially digest. The Oscar winner focuses on Ike’s ability to lead and not let ego win the day, and that pose is more than enough for “Pressure.”

The rest is, well, history, one that “Pressure” captures with elan.

HiT or Miss: “Pressure” can’t replace “Saving Private Ryan” as the ultimate D Day film. Instead, it’s a vital companion piece putting the emphasis on duty, honor and sacrifice.