The best decision behind “The Brink of War?” Asking star Jeff Daniels not to go the Full Reagan.
The liberal actor neither sounds nor looks like The Gipper, and the production refuses to camouflage that fact.
Instead, writer/director Michael Russell Gunn’s big-screen debut lets the star focus on what matters – the late leader’s strength, commitment, humor and wisdom.
Those Reagan-esque qualities jump off the screen, making “The Brink of War” a dry but demanding slice of ’80s history.
“The Brink of War” opens with a crushing disappointment. The famed Reykjavík Summit of 1986 hit a rough patch, and President Reagan (Daniels) feared the worst.
The Cold War might bleed into a hot one.
The story dials back to the summit’s start with President Reagan and the Soviet Union’s Mikhail Gorbachev (Jared Harris) offering a steely brand of graciousness and grit.
It’s a sly way to start a story of two men sitting in a modest room, talking about matters critical to their nations and the world at large.
Dunn expands the canvas, giving time to the reporters attending the historic summit and First Lady Nancy Reagan (Hope Davis) following the meeting from afar.
Those efforts spark the narrative, but only slightly. Other attempts to broaden this “War” prove less successful, like the security parties of each nation sniping at each other with barbed talking points.
The film’s hoariest concession? The frequent use of the phrase, “Trust but verify.” Many moviegoers might not know that President Reagan’s go-to phrasing had Russian roots. That doesn’t make up for its clumsy overuse here.
Yet Dunn’s screenplay, despite the occasional misstep, crackles with intelligence and insight. The film gives Gorbachev plenty of humanity, assuring us what a formidable opponent he was despite being fairly new to the gig.
Daniels’ Reagan leans heavily on his good sense of humor, a grasp of basic psychology and endless resolve. He isn’t a caricature or a man teetering on the edge of senility. In fact, taking 2024’s “Reagan” out of the equation, it’s the most positive portrayal of the world leader in any Hollywood production.
That’s because it hails from Angel Studios, not La La Land.
“The Brink of War” isn’t dumbed down, but it’s accessible enough for teen viewers as well as adults. It’s hard to grasp the scope of the meeting if audiences weren’t alive back in 1986.
What’s most shocking – slash -welcome? President Reagan’s frequent attacks on the inhumanity at the heart of Communism. “War” doesn’t overplay that message, but it’s a welcome departure from Hollywood’s head-in-the-sand approach to the fascist cause.
Daniels is outstanding here, giving a consistently strong performance that isn’t bogged down by unnecessary tics or personal attacks on the president. He’s not deified, per se, and his stubbornness and folksy charm both help and hinder the mission in play.
Harris is terrific, too, embodying the bluntness of the Soviet Union of that era.
“The Brink of War” still suffers from the monotonous setting. We see sumptuous shots of local landscapes, and the critical building (where the actual summit took place) is a character unto itself.
It’s lean, practical and cold, a perfect metaphor for the summit in question.
“The Brink of War” can’t escape its own limitations, but the powderkeg nature of the talks gives the film its undeniable strength.
HiT or Miss: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Genre: Historical drama
Runtime: 1h 57m
Where to Watch: Theaters
Family Friendly? Yes