Devotion (2022)

Devotion is special because it treats a war story not as a parade of heroics, but as a human bond forged under pressure—one that lands with a quiet, lingering power. J.D. Dillard brings you close enough to feel the cold metal of the Corsairs and the claustrophobic tension of carrier life, while the aerial sequences are shot with a clarity and muscle that make the danger unmistakably real. At the center, Jonathan Majors gives Jesse Brown a guarded dignity and aching interior life, and Glen Powell meets him with a steady, lived-in sincerity that turns their friendship into the film’s true engine. It’s a straightforward, respectful true-story drama rather than a cynical or flashy war spectacle, so if you want relentless action or easy triumph, it may feel restrained—but if you’re on the fence, its heart and craftsmanship are exactly what pull you over.

Devotion is clearly aiming for a respectful, old-school war biopic about courage, brotherhood, and the costs of service, with handsome aerial sequences and a sincere desire to honor Jesse Brown’s legacy. The problem is it often feels like it’s flying on autopilot: familiar beats, polished speeches, and a conventional structure that can make the emotions land softer than the story deserves. Jonathan Majors brings real gravity and Glen Powell is reliably watchable, but the script doesn’t always dig deep enough into Brown’s interior life or make the friendship feel as textured as the history behind it. If you want a straightforward, PG-13, inspirational war drama with solid craft, it’ll do the job; if you’re hoping for something sharper, more complex, or less formulaic, this may leave you oddly unmoved.