Pressure

Director: Anthony Maras

Pressure is a true story, set in 1944, as the Allies under Eisenhower (Brendan Fraser) make final preparations for D-Day. The operation needs an accurate weather forecast, and on Churchill’s recommendation, Eisenhower calls in James Stagg (Andrew Scott) as Chief Meteorological Officer, with 61 hours to produce one. Stagg, a modern meteorologist driven by real-time data, sees storms coming that could mean disaster and huge casualties. This puts him at odds with Eisenhower’s trusted forecaster, Colonel Irving Krick (Chris Messina), convinced historic patterns mean clear skies  and a power struggle to convince Eisenhower and save the invasion.

History is full of little-known stories that offer fascinating insight into the people behind monumental events. Pressure is one such example. While the film itself is a little “paint by numbers” — well structured if not overly inspiring — that doesn’t take away from the fascinating story at its heart.

Maras deserves credit for taking what is fundamentally a story of men arguing about weather forecasts and making it engaging, tense and fascinating across its 100 minutes.

It’s no surprise Andrew Scott and Brendan Fraser deliver two excellent, engaging performances. Scott is perfect as the slightly awkward but convictions-certain Stagg. Fraser captures an Eisenhower caught between the task’s enormity and the risk to lives in his hands. Messina is solid as Krick, and Kerry Condon’s Kay Summersby provides emotional balance amongst the male egos. While much of the film is people arguing over weather, it also provides opening and closing scenes that are hugely impactful.

It falls a little short in places. The telling feels a touch safe, and some plot points land on the nose. There’s also a subplot with Stagg’s pregnant wife, a fictional addition that feels unnecessary, and it occasionally shows its stage-play roots.

Minor qualms aside, this is a solid telling of a fascinating story, and well worth a watch to learn about a little-known but critical moment in history.