Devotion

2022

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 30 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 39 Ratings

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6.1	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 39 Ratings

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Devotion

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Movie Details & Credits

Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) | Release Date: November 23, 2022 | PG-13

Starring: Aleks Alifirenko Jr., Boone Platt, Christina Jackson, Daren Kagasoff, Dean Denton, Emily Brinks, Glen Powell, Joe Jonas, Jonathan Majors, Joseph Cross, Logan Macrae, Matt Riedy, Nick Hargrove, Serinda Swan, Spencer Neville, Thomas Sadoski

Summary: Devotion, an aerial war epic based on the bestselling book of the same name, tells the harrowing true story of two elite US Navy fighter pilots during the Korean War. Their heroic sacrifices would ultimately make them the Navy's most celebrated wingmen.

Director: J.D. Dillard

Genre(s): Action, Drama, War

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 139 min

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Critic Reviews

RogerEbert.com Robert Daniels

Nov 23, 2022

Devotion walks the tightropes between discord and harmony, hard lessons and heroic triumphs, and full-throated allyship and useless white guilt with aplomb. Read full review

The Playlist Jourdain Searles

Sep 17, 2022

The film comes to life when Majors and Powell are in the air. Dillard and cinematographer Erik Messerschmidt make the sky feel vast and alive, threatening to swallow up Jesse and Tom at any moment. Along with the film’s thrilling flight scenes, Majors is the biggest draw of Devotion, showcasing his distinctly masculine vulnerability to portray a man as strong as he is silent. Read full review

Ro Moore

Nov 23, 2022

Devotion’s a respectful introduction to heroes the world should know and celebrate. Between J.D. Dillard’s thoughtful direction, the shocking clarity of Erik Messerschmidt’s cinematography, a rousing soundscape, and the tight editing, it’s a riveting drama ready to give even the best aerial war story a run for its money. Read full review

David Canfield

Sep 17, 2022

Devotion is thoroughly well-executed, but it’s rousing when Majors gets to play outside the box and show you something new. Read full review

Trace Sauveur

Nov 22, 2022

Though undeniably sincere and crafted with a sturdy visual sense from cinematographer Erik Messerschmidt, there’s as much rote storytelling here as there is surprisingly thoughtful character work. Read full review

Amy Nicholson

Dec 2, 2022

As an intellectual dismantling of white savior narratives, Devotion is smartly done; as an enjoyable heartwarmer to watch with your uncle, it’s stiff when it should soar. Read full review

Michael Rechtshaffen

Sep 17, 2022

Strip away the IMAX scope, the booming score and the flyboy swagger, however, and all that remains is a hollow shell of bland, beaten-down war movie tropes that leave Jonathan Majors to effectively fend for himself with his deeply-rooted lead portrayal of the first Black aviator in Navy history. Read full review

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User Reviews

jeffw38

Dec 6, 2022

Don’t understand the low scores? This was a great movie. More so because it’s based on a true story.

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

ahw2002

Dec 9, 2022

Relatable characters based on real people who did remarkable things. Most of what is portrayed actually happened, which made the film much more meaningful and emotional. Many of the aerial scenes are shot with the actual aircraft. Great historical film telling an important real story.

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

Ralfbergs

Jan 30, 2023

I think it was good, but similar story I think I already saw before only this time it was more about race and for me it felt like something is missing for it to feel like really great movie compared to other war movies. Still good though.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Brent_Marchant

Nov 26, 2022

When paying homage to a war hero, one would assume that the character in question deserves a fitting tribute. Unfortunately, director J.D. Dillard’s biography of African-American Korean War aviator Jesse Brown (Jonathan Majors) comes up somewhat short. The film’s first half is tediouslyWhen paying homage to a war hero, one would assume that the character in question deserves a fitting tribute. Unfortunately, director J.D. Dillard’s biography of African-American Korean War aviator Jesse Brown (Jonathan Majors) comes up somewhat short. The film’s first half is tediously paced and includes considerable extraneous material, with a narrative that’s rather episodic in nature. The characters (other than the protagonist) and the picture’s principal themes (including Brown’s struggle to fit in to a newly integrated military) also feel somewhat underdeveloped, leaving some of the potentially strongest elements of this story on the table. And, despite an apparent intention to make up for oversights that have caused the Korean conflict to be called “America’s forgotten war” (as noted in the film’s opening graphics), the picture never really picks up on that idea to any great degree, treating the war as more of a backdrop than anything else. Thankfully, this biography makes up for these shortcomings somewhat in the second half as the story becomes more focused and considerably more compelling, but that’s not enough to save the production overall, despite some fine camera work and a solid performance by Majors as the devoted airman. This offering, despite apparent good intents, could really have used some judicious retooling before being released to allow it to live up to its potential and to give Airman Brown the recognition he truly deserved.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

TVJerry

Jan 9, 2023

Jonathan Majors and Glen Powell play Navy fighter pilots during the Korean War. They have some aerial assignments, but the crux of this film is their relationship. Major's character is very accomplished (the 1st Black Navy fighter pilot), but he still suffered from racism (past & present).Jonathan Majors and Glen Powell play Navy fighter pilots during the Korean War. They have some aerial assignments, but the crux of this film is their relationship. Major's character is very accomplished (the 1st Black Navy fighter pilot), but he still suffered from racism (past & present). Powell plays his wing man, standing by his side despite the challenges. Obs, the flying scenes aren't as impressive as the new Top Gun, but they're adequate. This isn't really a war film anyway, but an appreciation of the devotion and sacrifices these men had for their country and each other (it's based on a true story).… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

alanpotter17

Dec 20, 2022

Tudo que foi feito aqui já foi contado melhor em outros filmes, ainda que seja baseado em fatos reais. Temos uma amizade que vai se desenvolvendo até com certa sensibilidade (mas muitas vezes um pouco cansativa), dois homens (um negro e um branco) em meio a situa??es de guerra, ambos s?oTudo que foi feito aqui já foi contado melhor em outros filmes, ainda que seja baseado em fatos reais. Temos uma amizade que vai se desenvolvendo até com certa sensibilidade (mas muitas vezes um pouco cansativa), dois homens (um negro e um branco) em meio a situa??es de guerra, ambos s?o pilotos da Marinha, e claro, uma família que os espera dramaticamente.
A primeira cena de voo é muito sem sal, n?o empolga, é fria como os territórios que os mocinhos invadem. A discuss?o geopolítica se resume a barrar o avan?o comunista, n?o sendo o foco do filme. Ao menos a última cena é muito bem feita, com um registro de resgate inclusive sendo filmado com a c?mera tremida, tal qual um "mockumentary", e ficou realmente muito boa. O restante é pura pieguice.
Baseado num livro, é uma história mediana para se curtir sem pretens?es, que n?o avan?a mais do que as próprias pernas, mas também n?o derrapa feio.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Thelog32

Nov 24, 2022

Glorifying a conflict that would be America’s first of the modern blueprint for imperialist war crimes. It’s pretty funny that the lead actor went from accurately depicting it in Lovecraft Country to this trash propaganda. 5 out of five, would warcrime again.

1 of 13 users found this helpful112

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