I’ve never cried at a movie before. My eyes have never even gotten moist. I mean, I’ve been sad watching a few things. I’m not a monster.
But holy crap, Heart of the Beast broke me. By the time the credits started to roll, I was a mess.
Brad Pitt stars as James Belmont, a Special Forces veteran who spends his days exploring the Alaskan wilderness with his retired combat dog, Odin (Uber). The two fly from one remote spot to another in a small plane, pitch a tent, fish and hang out. They’re best friends, and the film gives us just enough time with them to understand how much that means.
On their way to their next stop, Belmont suddenly clutches his chest and passes out. The plane crashes, and Odin is thrown clear. When Belmont frees himself from the wreckage, he desperately searches for his dog and finally spots him lying motionless among the debris. He fears the worst, and so does everyone in the audience. Then, in one of the film’s funniest moments, Odin wakes up and casually strolls over as if he’s wondering what all the fuss is about.
But now their plane is destroyed, leaving them with a 58-mile hike to the nearest road. That would be hard enough under normal circumstances, but Belmont is injured, they’re deep in the wilderness, and they have no idea what might be lurking out there. It isn’t long before they find out.
There isn’t much more to the plot, but the film doesn’t need it. Cameron Alexander’s screenplay keeps the focus on Belmont and Odin, letting their relationship carry the story even as the danger around them grows. Director David Ayer never lets the pacing flag, including in the quieter moments, while cinematographer Mauro Fiore makes the mountains, the skies and even the darkness look beautiful.
J.K. Simmons appears early on as a grizzled man named Watkins. He’s there partly to help us extract more info about Belmont and Odin, but Simmons makes the encounter so entertaining that I wanted him to stick around. At first, you can’t quite tell whether he’s a friend or a threat and that makes his performance even better.
The film belongs to Pitt and Uber, though. They’re on their own for most of it, and I was never bored. This is a story about a man and his dog trying to survive, with each showing the other how much he cares in ways both big and small.
Scene after scene, Pitt has actual conversations with his best pal, just like I do with my dog. When I talk to mine, I can practically hear his answers in my head. Watching Belmont and Odin, I felt like Odin was answering him, too.
Pitt is great here and should absolutely get an Oscar nomination. You know what would make it even better? A joint nomination for him and Uber.
If you have a good boy or girl waiting at home after you see this movie, you’re going to want to get back as soon as you can and give them a hug and about a million belly rubs.
