★★ (2 out of 4)
Yes, “The Brink of War” is another historical drama about old white men determining the fate of the world. And since it’s from Angel Studios, founded by Mormon brothers (the Harmon family), it operates as an independent media company producing and distributing broad, Christian-themed content that strongly aligns with conservative, traditional and faith-based values. Angel had a big hit this summer fostering the program with “Young Washington.” Kudos to Jeff Daniels, Jared Harris and J.D. Simmons, actors good and true, for pretending not to notice any underlying bias as they attend to “The Brink of War.”
It’s quite the tale. Remember the 1986 Reykjavik Summit when Ronald Reagan (Daniels) and Mikhail Gorbachev (Harris) set the stage for a nuclear arms control treaty between the United States and the Soviet Union? Secretary of State George Shultz (Simmons) is along to reminds the other two about American values. And they do it in Iceland, away from prying media eyes.
Here’s a war film with all the visual drama of a book on tape.
Does “The Brink of War” deliver the inside dirt? Hardly. In his feature film debut, writer-director Michael Russell Gunn animates the proceedings with all the emotion of a transcript. That’s why the need for solid actors is crucial. And the film gets them. It may have helped the thespians get into their roles since the film was shot in the actual room where the meetings took place. It sure helps me and other potential viewers to not include the translators. Talk about a momentum killer. A small favor, but a vital one.
Daniels makes a brave try at mimicking a few Reagan mannerisms, like starting every other sentence with “Well . . .” But there’s a waxy Madame Tussaud quality to his hair and makeup that works against the natural spontaneity of the Great Communicator. Reagan was a movie star, after all—OK, he barely acted in barely good movies—but Daniels uses Reagan’s folksy charm to great effect. And when he gets a good line—“Tear down this wall between us, Mr. Gorbachev!”—he sends it home.
But whatever Daniels can do, Harris does better. This “values-based” movie is in the tank with America. But Harris gives a wily, frisky quality to the Soviet leader that can’t disguise his unyielding power. Gorbachev was adamant against the U.S. Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), also known as "Star Wars." And that ended the meeting in a stalemate.
Daniels and especially Harris bring real dramatic force to what goes unsaid, but this film won’t stop talking. Director Gunn breaks away when he can with scenes of the gorgeous Iceland landscape or the wives doing cameos. Hope Davis literally phones it in as Nancy Reagan, leaving a powerhouse Branka Katic to take charge as Raisa Gorbachev. But Katic is given even less screen time than Aya Cash and Guy Burnet as reporters following Mrs. Gorbachev. These are gimmicks meant to distract us from the droning in the main room. They fail.
Look, “The Brink of War” clearly has relevance to the brink of nuclear war that’s more of a threat than ever. But who are we kidding? Gunn gives his war film all the visual drama of a book on tape. Historical drama shouldn’t feel like homework. “The Brink of War” feels like homework.