Some historical events almost seem tailor-made for the big screen. The final years of the Cold War are a perfect example. The Brink of War takes us back to a fascinating period in history, when tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union once again reached dangerous levels. On paper, the film has everything it needs to deliver a nuanced and balanced historical drama. Unfortunately, it becomes clear almost immediately that the filmmakers have chosen to tell the story from a very specific perspective.
The Brink of War Tells a Fascinating Piece of History
The Brink of War is set against the backdrop of one of the most tense periods of the Cold War. At the center of the story are U.S. President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, as the relationship between the two superpowers slowly shifts from confrontation towards cautious diplomacy.
It is, without a doubt, a very interesting piece of history. Considering the enormous consequences these events would eventually have for world politics, it is fascinating to see just how close the two superpowers could come to a direct confrontation.
The concept of the film also offered a great opportunity to tell an incredibly balanced story. The Cold War was never a simple conflict in which one side was entirely good and the other entirely evil. However, The Brink of War makes its position clear almost from the start.
A Very Pro-American and Pro-Reagan Approach
From the very beginning, The Brink of War leaves little doubt about its perspective. This is a very pro-American and, consequently, very pro-Reagan interpretation of history.
That does not mean the film fails to tell the true story. The historical events at the center of the film are fascinating, and the broader historical context is treated seriously enough. The issue is more about the way certain events and characters are presented.
There is very little objectivity here. Reagan is clearly positioned as the strong American leader attempting to remain firm, while the Soviet side is presented in a considerably less sympathetic light. That does not necessarily make the film bad, but it is something to keep in mind when approaching The Brink of War as a historical drama.
Anyone looking for a completely neutral reconstruction of these events may therefore be somewhat disappointed.
Old-School Cold War Movie Elements
One thing the film does particularly well is recreate that familiar Cold War atmosphere. The Brink of War makes good use of several old-school elements associated with the genre.
Tensions between global superpowers, secret meetings, political maneuvering and the constant fear that one wrong decision could have catastrophic consequences are all familiar ingredients. Yet they work well here. The film does not need to turn everything into a huge spectacle. Much of the tension comes from the possibility of what might happen.
And that suits the subject matter perfectly.
Jeff Daniels as Ronald Reagan
One of the film's more noticeable casting choices is Jeff Daniels as Ronald Reagan. And let's be honest: Jeff Daniels looks nothing like Ronald Reagan.
But is that really a problem? Not particularly.
Daniels does not attempt to deliver a perfect physical impersonation. Instead, he creates his own interpretation of Reagan. He plays the role with conviction and manages to bring enough charisma and authority to the character that the casting choice ultimately works.
Jared Harris may be even more convincing as Mikhail Gorbachev. Harris actually bears a strong resemblance to Gorbachev, and convincing makeup and hairstyling further enhance that effect. His performance is one of the stronger elements of the film.
A Strong Supporting Cast
Alongside Daniels and Harris, The Brink of War benefits from a solid supporting cast. The various political and military figures ensure that the story does not revolve exclusively around its two central leaders.
That is important, because a film that takes place largely in political offices and behind closed doors can quickly become little more than two people talking endlessly. Fortunately, The Brink of War manages to avoid that trap for the most part.
Plenty of Dialogue, But Never Too Much Dry Material
If you are looking for a film packed with action, The Brink of War probably isn't for you. This is primarily a movie driven by dialogue.
Still, it never feels like sitting through a two-hour history lesson. The pacing is fairly good, while the dialogue is sharp enough to keep things moving. The film understands that political negotiations and discussions can be genuinely suspenseful when the stakes are high enough.
At the same time, this also makes one thing rather obvious: much of the dialogue was clearly written specifically for the film. It seems unlikely that everything these characters say to one another actually happened in precisely this way.
But ultimately, that does little damage to the film. The dialogue serves its purpose by highlighting the themes and tensions between the characters. As a historical reconstruction, some of it should probably be taken with a grain of salt. As a cinematic story, however, it works quite well.
The Brink of War Is Fascinating, But Far From Objective
Ultimately, The Brink of War is an interesting historical thriller that explores a fascinating period in world history. Its strong concept is not fully utilized because the film quickly settles on a distinctly American and pro-Reagan perspective.
That does not mean the movie has nothing to offer. The Cold War atmosphere works, the cast delivers strong performances, and the scenes built around political discussions manage to remain engaging. Jared Harris is particularly convincing as Gorbachev, while Jeff Daniels proves that physical resemblance is not necessarily essential to delivering an effective performance as Reagan.
The biggest problem, therefore, is not that The Brink of War has a particular point of view. It is that its concept offered such a great opportunity for a more nuanced and balanced story. Had the filmmakers taken that route, the result could have been considerably more compelling.
Even so, The Brink of War remains a solid and entertaining historical drama, with a fascinating subject, a strong cast and enough memorable moments to make it worth watching.
Rating: 7/10
