- "Pressure" shifts the traditional World War II lens away from the battlefield and into the war room, focusing on the high-stakes, 72-hour meteorological battle leading up to D-Day.
- While a movie about a weather forecast might sound slow on paper, the film surpasses expectations to deliver an engaging historical thriller.
- Directed by Anthony Maras, the filmmakers make moviegiers feel as if they are in the room alongside Allied leaders.
- The plot hinges on meteorologist James Stagg telling military brass the weather is too dangerous to launch, balanced against the massive gamble of a delay — which could tip off the Germans or cost the Allies a critical tidal window.
How exciting can a movie about a weather report really be?
In the context of D-Day, with the fate of the free world at stake and the largest seaborne invasion in history at risk, the answer is: riveting.
Directed by Anthony Maras, “Pressure” offers a unique, tension-filled window into the 72 hours leading up to the invasion of Normandy. These were undoubtedly some of the most stressful hours of the war for Allied leaders, and the film brilliantly illustrates how that deliberation played out.
While World War II films are a cinema staple, a story about meteorology might initially seem less exciting than a traditional boots-on-the-ground action blockbuster. However, “Pressure” completely overthrows those expectations.
Through the camera work and direction from Maras, the film captures the heated arguments and disagreements that echoed throughout the war room.
The tension makes audiences feel as if they are in the room with Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower (Brendan Fraser) as he makes decisions that will impact millions of lives.
“Pressure” uncovers a lesser-known chapter of World War II history, shining a light on the immense weight carried by Allied meteorologists and the impact of their predictions. Some previous World War II films have touched on the subject, like in “The Longest Day,” but it has yet to be the central focus of a film, until now.
Meteorologist James Stagg (Andrew Scott) is tasked with telling the military brass exactly what they do not want to hear: The weather for the proposed D-Day launch is anything but optimal. Delaying the launch is a massive gamble, but moving forward under impossible weather conditions would mean the loss of thousands of lives and a failed mission.
Fraser represents an Eisenhower who genuinely cares about the troops under his command, who listens to the experts and is feeling the heavy burden of the final decision being his call, Fraser told the Deseret News. Both his burdened Eisenhower and Andrew Scott’s anxious but uncompromising meteorologist anchor the film.
Maras told the Deseret News that opening the film with the tragic rehearsal known as Exercise Tiger set the stakes for the entire movie. Knowing that hundreds of Allied troops died during that exercise just six weeks prior underscores the gravity of the go or no go launch decision.
A tragic training exercise and rehearsal for D-Day, Exercise Tiger, in which German interference and miscommunication on the Allied side killed hundreds of servicemen, illustrated “what the consequences of failure are,” Maras told the Deseret News.
“Pressure” is a ticking-clock historical drama that, despite viewers knowing how the war ends, keeps the audience on the edge of their seats for the entire 100-minute runtime.
Why is ‘Pressure’ rated PG-13?
“Pressure” is rated PG-13 for war violence, bloody images, some strong language and smoking.