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‘Devotion’ Review: An Airman in Reflection

Jonathan Majors stars as the U.S. Navy’s first Black aviator in this drama from J.D. Dillard.

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By Amy Nicholson

“Devotion,” directed by J.D. Dillard, recounts the landmark career of Ensign Jesse L. Brown, the son of a Mississippi sharecropper who became the U.S. Navy’s first Black aviator in 1948, and, two years later, its first Black officer to die in the Korean War. Brown’s wingman, a wealthy white United States Naval Academy graduate named Thomas J. Hudner Jr., risked his own life in an attempt to save Brown, and was subsequently awarded the Medal of Honor.

Their story could be simplified into a sentimental tale of colorblind brotherhood. (Adam Makos’s 2015 nonfiction book of the same name cites a 1951 Ebony magazine as guilelessly cheering, “The key to Jesse’s popularity was his assumption that no race problem existed and, as a result, none did.”) Instead, Dillard and the screenwriters Jake Crane and Jonathan A.H. Stewart dig deeper into Brown’s pat quotes to the press, revealing a man who didn’t share his anguish with outsiders — a reticence their Brown, played at a lidded simmer by Jonathan Majors, seems to feel toward the very movie he’s in.

The goal is to scrub the symbolism off Brown and restore him to humanity: a 24-year-old striver, husband and father who loathes being singled out as a special case. His odd couple dynamic with the easy-grinning Hudner (Glen Powell) is the steadiest narrative thrust in a film that tends to drift from one set piece to another, much like the military itself in this sliver of years between the end of World War II and the rise of the Cold War era. Here, Brown and Hudner’s squad might be stationed in the Mediterranean to scare off Soviet ships and wake up from an evening spent in Cannes flirting with a teenage Elizabeth Taylor — a true story, modestly embellished — to learn they’re abruptly pivoting to snowy Sinuiju.

Dillard’s curiosity about this often-overlooked time of transition adds some shading to stretches that otherwise feel like a “Top Gun” prequel with the sleek jets swapped out for ungainly gull-wing Corsair propeller planes, heavy beasts that resemble a rockhopper penguin slumped over at the end of a saloon. Dillard and the cinematographer, Erik Messerschmidt, allow a scene or two of crowd-pleasing spectacle, say a dogfight with an enemy MIG, or a shot of ocean surf reflected in the steel belly of a skimming aircraft. But despite its emotional score, the film is more interested in unheroic details: insults ignored, insignia easily discarded, platitudes that dissipate in the air. It refuses to build to the kind of operatic weepie Brown himself wouldn’t respect. 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.

Still, Majors — one of our most sincere actors — does sob early and often, particularly in a searing moment in front of a mirror when he stares directly at the lens and spits racist insults at his own reflection as though inuring himself to poison. This choice to keep his pain private becomes a window into how Brown wanted to be viewed in life and death: not as a victim in need of rescue, but as his own man.

Devotion Rated PG-13 for strong language, smoking and scenes of war. Running time: 2 hours 18 minutes. In theaters.

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Devotion review – sturdy flyboy biopic needs more maverick spirit

Toronto film festival: An inspiring yet by-the-numbers retelling of the first Black man to compete in the navy’s flight training program

B efore there was a Top Gun, there was Jesse Brown and Tom Hudner. Brown held the distinction of being the first Black aviator to complete the navy’s flight training program, serving in the Korean war with Hudner as his trusty wingman. But in Devotion, director JD Dillard’s screen dramatization of their time in uniform, the decorated flyboys and their brothers-in-arms of the Fighting 32nd lack the cocksure jockishness flexed by Maverick and his cohort. Despite the superficial similarities to the dogfighting bonanza of the summer (and shooting in what could be the exact same patch of tundra for the identical emotional climaxes), this polished double biopic distinguishes itself with a solemnity and stillness in the moments between missions. Training its crosshair on the ingrained prejudice of the military and the question of how well-meaning white allies can best support its undoing, the film compensates for relatively middling action set pieces with a stolid maturity. Except for the part where Joe Jonas tries to score with Elizabeth Taylor.

The guys’ waggish detour to a Croisette casino with the crown jewel of Hollywood’s golden-agers (played by Serrinda Swan, a serviceable lookalike) is as rowdy as it gets, anomalous to the stiff-lipped snap-and-salute tone. (It’s also one in a handful of scenes that could be easily trimmed to get a 138-minute runtime in fighting shape.) From the first meeting between Lnt Hudner (Glen Powell, looking every bit the naval officer Ken doll he did in the Top Gun sequel) and Ensign Brown (Jonathan Major), there’s a tentativeness in their bonding that goes beyond the usually gradual nature of the process. The difference in their races hangs over every scene they share, though the issue isn’t any bigotry on Hudner’s part. Quite the opposite – he’s all too insistent about sticking up for a perfectly capable adult who wants nothing more than to be treated like anyone else.

Brown encounters discrimination everywhere he goes, whether from bartenders refusing to serve him or drunken louts trotting out the laziest slurs they’ve got. While he’s gotten good at turning the other cheek as demanded by a white-dominated society, he can’t deny the accumulated pain in his more intimate moments. A shaken yet determined Majors gets a chance to show his range in the private baring of his weariness, as in his ritualistic repeating of past invective hurled at him or the recounting of a swim test stacked against him that he nonetheless passed. Hudner takes it upon himself to defend his buddy, just as he’d want done for himself, oblivious that slugging strangers and filing special reports only brings unwanted attention to a Black man who’d rather fly under the radar than give tokenistic quotes to reporters from Time magazine. And maybe it only seems like it because he gets the final beat, but Hudner’s slow enlightenment about the difference between performative solidarity and true showing up turns into the core substance of a film ostensibly focused on tribute to a pioneering African American.

Their hard-earned friendship makes for an inspiring profile in camaraderie, even when packaged in simplistic morals. Brown’s wife (Christina Jackson) plays a thankless role that could have been scripted for her in checklist form: provide warm familial memory to sustain husband, express concern over risks he takes, weep in his absence, deliver clueless Caucasian’s lesson to be there when needed instead of leaping to provide aid out of pity. Jackson does it all with poise and a sensuality that shows us why she goes so well with her soft-spoken, strait-laced spouse. “It’s important to know who you’re flying with,” Hudner tells her in a visit to his partner’s home before they ship out. Jake Crane and Jonathan A Stewart’s screenplay abides by that maxim, more invested in the grounded portrayal of these men and their relationships than their exploits in the sky.

Sturdy if unexceptional, this prime cut of dad-bait hangs on the performances of Majors and Powell, two abundantly charming men hamstrung by straightforward material. The latter has an all-American face that looks like privilege made flesh, full of prep school educations and rugby trophies and summers on the compound. He’s an apt counterpoint to Majors, sculpted for a stoicism rooted not in masculine repression, but in carefully maintained control over anger. His whole life, he’s had to work twice as hard to get half as far, a trite biopic standby that Majors does his best to redeem with stifled frustration and exhaustion. Military men down to their bones, Brown and Hudner both put on a brave facade as they respectively wrestle with external hardship and self-imposed guilt, stowing their angst under a plain appearance. Dillard attempts to do the same with his unadorned point-and-shoot direction. He, however, has nothing richer lying underneath the placid surface.

Devotion is screening at the Toronto film festival and will be released in the US on 23 November

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Devotion review: a respectful war epic that flies high on its true story elements [tiff].

Stylized and cultured, Devotion soars when least expected and is brought to life by its talented ensemble cast led by Jonathan Majors & Glen Powell.

Directed by J.D. Dillard from a screenplay by Jake Crane and Jonathan Stewart, Devotion is based on actual events during the Korean War. Heartbreaking and sincere, the film dives head-first into the lives of U.S. Navy fighter pilots Jesse Brown and Tom Hudner, as well as their very attractive wingmen in the throes of danger. Based on the book Devotion: An Epic Story of Heroism, Friendship, and Sacrifice by Adam Makos, Devotion is a harrowing journey into stories that have remained untold by the men who continue to fight for equality. It's a war epic that walks the line of racial segregation, bravery, and the cost of defending one's country.

Set against the backdrop of the Korean War, Devotion focuses on the U.S. Navy's first Black aviator, Jesse Brown (Jonathan Majors). He is a well-trained and skilled fighter pilot who never gets the credit he deserves from the media due in large part to the color of his skin. Jesse's peers in flight are no better than the squadron leaders, as Jesse continuously battles with prejudice in the newly desegregated Navy. Lieutenant Tom Hudner (Glen Powell) enters the scene by joining up with Jesse's team of aviators, with both men admiring one another's abilities in the air and commitment to achieving all the goals of their future missions.

Related: Devotion Movie Trailer Takes Top Gun Star Into The Korean War

As the only Black man in a sea of white faces, Jesse must constantly prove himself capable of carrying out the role he has dedicated himself to in the sky. During a side trip to the French Riviera in an odd sequence that probably didn't belong in this film, Jesse comes across Elizabeth Taylor (Serinda Swan), who invites the boys to a casino for some fun. However, Jesse faces racism again as Tom attempts to defend his brother-in-arms against a team of Marines. It's instances like this throughout the movie that reflect Jesse's determination to just be taken seriously.

A pointed scene where Jesse talks to himself in the mirror becomes a twisted form of daily affirmations that go astray. He hurls stereotypical racial rhetoric at himself, spouting out all the hate speech he has heard his entire life as a way to build up confidence for impending test missions. It works. The danger becomes a genuine reality when the squadron gets to the Korean peninsula. Jesse, Tom, and their fellow fighter pilots fly a combat mission that results in Jesse's aircraft coming under fire. The true story behind Devotion comes into full frame as Tom learns what it takes to be a real wingman in the face of uncertainty.

Borrowing elements from Ensign Jesse Brown and Lieutenant Tom Hudner's life experiences, Devotion takes viewers to the skies in an epic war story for the ages. Respectful to the real-life segments of the Korean War, J.D. Dillard is careful to paint a picture of racial segregation at a time when the rage of hatred is outweighed by the ultimate task at hand. An ensemble cast that includes Joe Jonas, Thomas Sadoski, Daren Kagasoff, Nick Hargrove, and Spencer Neville help to elevate the valor and courage of the airmen forgotten by history.

With his role as astronaut John Glenn in Hidden Figures , his portrayal of Hangman in Top Gun: Maverick , and now his embodiment of Tom Hudner, Glen Powell seems to have a penchant for playing airmen. Suave and cocky, Powell's take on Tom is well acted and feverishly entertaining. Dillard's direction is at the peak of his career, in the first blockbuster movie on his resume that begs to be seen in IMAX. But it's Jonathan Majors who stands out in Devotion . His painstaking attention to detailing Jesse's life and love for his wife Daisy (Christina Jackson) is felt in every layer of his performance. A combination of vitriol and poetic love are traits at the heart of everything Majors does in this film.

As the unpredictability of war and geopolitical tactics zoom into central focus, Devotion excels when the truth comes out. With a heart-pounding score from composer Chanda Dancy, the movie transitions into a tense plot that carries the film forward, despite its semi-long runtime and glossy exterior. Stylized and cultured, Devotion soars when least expected and is brought to life by its talented ensemble cast.

Devotion had its premiere at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival on September 12. The film will be released in theaters on November 23. It is 138 minutes long and is rated PG-13 for strong language, some war action/violence, and smoking.

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Devotion Reviews

Devotion doesn’t have the impact it should have, even if Jonathan Majors and Glen Powell give powerhouse performances.

Full Review | Original Score: C+ | Mar 6, 2024

The aviation drama tells the thrilling and tragic story of Jesse Brown, the first African-American aviator to complete the basic flight training program of the U.S. Navy.

Full Review | Oct 4, 2023

Devotion may not break the mould for war or aviation films. Still, it is a well-directed and entertaining film that is perhaps a tad too long but elevated by superb performances from Jonathan Majors and Glen Powell.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Aug 7, 2023

Stylized and cultured, Devotion soars when least expected and is brought to life by its talented ensemble cast led by Jonathan Majors & Glen Powell.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | Jul 25, 2023

Devotion tells a character-driven story with emotionally complex protagonists, proudly focusing on honoring forgotten heroes and interestingly developing moral themes despite the somewhat repetitive structure.

Full Review | Original Score: B | Jul 25, 2023

Jonathan Majors & Glen Powell are the real deal. Fantastic cinematography & riveting performances Devotion sticks out and makes itself different enough than Top Gun!

Full Review | Jul 25, 2023

Devotion is another example of Majors proving that he is one of the finest young actors working today, but he, and Ensign Jesse Brown, deserved a richer script.

Full Review | Jul 24, 2023

Its heroism lies in being true to its characters and their stories rather than trying hard to make it a larger-than-life war drama without a beating heart.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | Apr 14, 2023

The script is respectful to a fault, taking a muted, Masterpiece Theatre approach to a full-blooded tale.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4 | Mar 5, 2023

Well made with thrilling aerial sequences, the film falters when it tries to decide who the main character is.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Mar 4, 2023

Majors' rising star shines bright in Devotion as he brings a real-life hero to life on screen.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Mar 1, 2023

this leaner indie-type production still packs a punch with lead stars, Jonathan Majors and Glen Powell, leading the war along with some riveting aerial battle footage.

Full Review | Original Score: B+ | Feb 19, 2023

I wish we had learned more about Jesse Brown but this film didn't go deep enough for me. This should have been an Oscar contender but there wasn't enough focus on Jesse's plight and his relationship with Tom Hudner for me to be emotionally invested.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Feb 14, 2023

Despite a really strong performance by Jonathan Majors, this film is very uneven with regards to pacing and character development. It should've been a contender.

A by-the-book biopic... that takes off propelled by Brown's real story but can't surpass Pete 'Maverick'' Mitchell's Mach 10. [Full review in Spanish]

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Feb 2, 2023

This is a solid and unflashy movie about a little-understood war and some genuine American heroes who were a part of it.

Full Review | Jan 30, 2023

With plenty of heart and soul, Devotion is an emotional spectacle, packed with soaring highs and gut-wrenching potency.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Jan 28, 2023

Devotion foregrounds the virtue of devoted relationships: faithfully showing up for one another and following through on duty, whether in marriage or friendship or war.

Full Review | Jan 27, 2023

Beautiful people in warplanes, always a winning combo. [Full review in Spanish]

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | Jan 25, 2023

…a well-crafted and highly recommendable slice of war heroics that hits all the targets it aims for…

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Jan 25, 2023

Devotion Review

J.d. dillard’s aerial stunner devotion is a thoughtful tribute to two of the korean war’s most celebrated wingmen..

Devotion hits theaters on Nov. 23, 2022.

War dramas based on true stories are often the easiest, and most accessible, way to introduce audiences to their own history and heroes. Telling those stories, however, can get thorny when that hero is a Black U.S. serviceman, as doing his journey justice inevitably means wrestling with challenges beyond those inherent to wartime. And those obstacles often represent pieces of U.S. history many prefer to ignore, even if doing that erases the contributions of talented and courageous people. But when done right, it's the kind of story that can be a transformative experience. Director J.D. Dillard’s Devotion, centering on Ensign Jesse Brown (Jonathan Majors), the first Black pilot to earn his wings in the U.S. Navy's basic flight training program, is exactly that kind of movie. It focuses on Brown's unlikely friendship with fellow naval aviator Lt. Tom Hudner (Glen Powell) in the early days of a war that put both their training and personal relationship to the test. For many moviegoers, the Top Gun duology shapes how we relate to fighter pilot stories. This true story about elite aviators offers a unique opportunity to replace that colorful fiction with compelling realness. After all, not all heroes wear capes; some flew Vought F4U-4 Corsairs into North Korean airspace to save lives.

Based on the book of the same name, Devotion opens with Hudner, the last member of VF-32 squadron, arriving on base. He enters the squad’s locker room just in time to catch the tail end of Brown shouting viciously at himself in the adjoining bath area. It’s a striking, if seemingly bizarre, introduction to the man, one that lays the groundwork for Majors’ deeply affecting performance as he epitomizes Brown’s vulnerabilities and unsettling coping mechanisms. Rather than follow Brown as he works to qualify as a fighter pilot, the story drops into events just prior to the attack that triggers war between North and South Korea. It’s a smart decision that makes way for a wartime story focused on the bonds between men.

Shortly after meeting Brown, the other squad members appear. They're a jovial bunch quick to offer Hudner a warm welcome – so on the surface, it's Brown’s reserved attitude that’s most notable, not the fact that he’s the only Black squadron member. It’s confronting the why behind his standoffishness that’ll kick you in the gut. Dillard incorporates the standard elements of a wartime movie aptly, levering his ensemble for its dry wit and tacit commitment to one another to counterbalance the heaviness of looming danger. Devotion doesn’t lack for action but the characters aren’t just a vehicle to chronicle the anxiety-inducing intensity and epicness of battle.

Dillard rightly keeps the lens trained on Majors as he navigates precarious circumstances as the sole Black pilot in the Navy. With a restrained power, Majors masterfully conveys that Brown doesn’t trust easily. Although confident in his skills, he openly tests his squadmates’ mettle. He rejects any attempt to “stand up” for him when others disrespect or threaten him. Brown doesn’t want or need a savior, but he’d welcome a friend he can trust to have his back. If Top Gun: Maverick served up a welcome reminder of what you love about aviation movies, then Dillard’s Korean war film marries those propulsive aerial sequences and cockpit point-of-view to a compelling true story certain to change how you think about a pilot and his wingman. Thankfully, the script balances its character study with sharply pointed action and thoughtful story progression in and out of the air.

Glen Powell’s Tom Hudner, meanwhile, isn’t an audience proxy for “discovering” the realities of racism. It’s 1950. While loss of life may have forced the U.S. military to move away from the overt segregation and disenfranchisement of Black servicemembers, it doesn’t mean their presence was readily accepted. Anti-Blackness and prejudice are everyday facts of life, and Powell portrays Hudner with a steadfastness and the convincing naivete of the privileged. Learning about what motivated him to join the Navy carves out his role in the squad with a relatable clarity. This is just as much his story as Brown’s because Hudner’s inability to understand why his squadmate hesitates to put his faith in him adds valuable perspective as their relationship progresses. Breaking barriers and shifting perspectives was (and still is) an inescapable by-product of Black people striving to live full lives in oppressive circumstances. It can become a cage all its own. With this in mind, Devotion’s about more than recounting the relationship between Brown and his white wingman Hudner.

It’s clear Hudner and Brown are both ace pilots. So, watching the squadron’s first milestone – qualifying for carrier landings – is even more gripping when it becomes clear something other than skill and mastery of his airplane keeps hindering Brown’s performance. And when you do eventually learn what’s tripping him up, you, like Hudner, won’t be able to wiggle away from the stark truth that is the Black experience in a world designed to exclude Black people.

Dillard’s story direction persistently layers in antagonistic encounters to highlight the prejudice Brown constantly faces. An anonymous noise complaint that brings the police to his family’s door. Being forced to pose for pictures and expected to parrot PR-ready quotes about his race for journalists. Swallowing racist disrespect from a Marine on ship. Each incident establishes reasons for Brown’s trust issues. Dillard blatantly rejects the laziness of relying on physical violence to expose the harm that can come to Brown as a result of racism. The impact is even greater as Dillard is careful to work in moments of respect, joy, and camaraderie to provide balance. This isn’t a story intended to paint everyone as a seething racist, just like it’s not one that ignores the fact that Brown succeeds despite a racist system functioning as designed. Hudner and the other members of the squadron don’t actively alienate Brown. They just fail to consider the impact that something seemingly insignificant to them would likely be devastating for Brown. It’s risky to choose subtly and normalcy over the more sensationalized version of discrimination. The pervasiveness and banality of anti-Blackness makes people uncomfortable. Shying away from the expected more physically violent angle in order to leave space for the work this squadron puts in to grow as a unit gives the story its real impact. Because this is, again, just as much Hudner’s story as it is Brown’s.

The first half of the film reveals Brown’s love of flying and family. Unlike his single compatriots, he’s a devoted husband and father. His wife, Daisy (brought to life with a delightful warmth and humor by Christina Jackson), is both his anchor and safe harbor. Powell’s confident and charismatic Hudner acts as a perfect foil to Majors’ stoic intensity and restrained vulnerability. Hudner bucked family expectations to join the military. He’s a true believer, committed to service. Each pilot finds common ground even as they struggle to see eye to eye. Dillard’s direction errs on the side of “show” rather than “tell,” bolstering the unspoken with strategic conversations between characters at pivotal moments over heavy-handed data dumps. The end result is a movie that offers its lessons on friendship and microaggressions without falling out of its storytelling pocket.

The Top 10 World War II Movies

By the time the combat portion of Devotion kicks off, it's impossible not to be fully invested in this team. The aerial sequences, for all their spectacularness, carry more than a hint of grounded authenticity. Even through the action choreography, each member of this small ensemble performs to make the whole greater than its parts. So when the third act takes a somber turn, the macro elements of warfare and engaging the enemy ring true. There aren’t many modern stories built around the Korean war; even fewer that put the racial dynamics front and center from a Black person’s perspective. It may seem counterintuitive, but refusing to flinch from the subject actually makes space for the story of a friendship between two men of different races without it devolving into a shallow savior narrative that does a disservice to its subjects. Devotion is a story about friendship, commitment, and the kind of honest connection that leaves no one behind. It’s jam-packed full of painful twists and turns, exciting action, and the kind of hopefulness that never goes out of style.

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.

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‘Devotion’ Review: JD Dillard Brings ‘Top Gun’ Mojo to Historic Account of a Barrier-Breaking Black Pilot

Jonathan Majors and Glen Powell play real-life Korean War heroes Jesse Brown and Tom Hudner, whose friendship reflects the U.S. Navy's early attempts at integration.

By Peter Debruge

Peter Debruge

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Muhammad Ali famously refused to fight for his country, justifying himself with the oft-quoted quip, “No Viet Cong ever called me n—–.” That’s one-half of American history, and an essential one. “ Devotion ” tells the other, presenting the story of a Black pilot so determined to defend — and die for, if need be — the United States that he was willing to endure institutional bigotry to become the Jackie Robinson of the skies: Jesse Brown, the first aviator of color to complete the Navy’s basic training program.

In that inclusive-minded blockbuster, it’s seemingly no big deal that many of the young pilots assembled for the movie’s trick-flying mission are women and people of color — the implication being that the battle for equal treatment in the U.S. armed services has long since been fought and won. In “Devotion,” that struggle is still actively underway. Brown keeps a book in which he’s written every insult and epithet that’s ever been thrown at him. Most days, as a brutal sort of motivational exercise, he stares at himself in the mirror and screams them back at the face he sees there — directly into the camera at one point. This is his armor, the way he toughens himself up for whatever fresh disrespect the other pilots might hurl at him.

Plenty of Black men had served in the U.S. military before Brown, though national policy kept them separated from white soldiers, and Jim Crow rules still applied. “Ever think you’d be in a squadron with a colored aviator?” asks one of the other pilots (apart from Joe Jonas, the vaguely defined white supporting characters all sort of blur together). Hudner doesn’t share their disgust with the new situation. Mostly, he’s just itching for action. Hudner enlisted when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, but the war ended a week before he graduated, which means he missed the “Big Show” (pilot-speak for the air fights of WWII). Although much of “Devotion” is presented through Hudner’s eyes, Dillard breaks from that perspective occasionally to share Brown’s experience, and every time he does, the movie becomes more interesting: the scene where Brown encounters Elizabeth Taylor on the beach at Cannes, for example, or an important interaction with a lower-ranking Black sailor, who presents him with a symbol of the men’s admiration.

Integration was a difficult process across American society, as those indoctrinated by notions of their own superiority tried to hold on to their power as long as possible. Revisiting these dynamics on-screen is invariably ugly and potentially triggering for many, which is one reason why storytellers prefer to focus on progressive cases such as Hudner, who demonstrates no overt racism when he meets Brown at Rhode Island’s Quonset Point base.

Though they’re both gifted pilots, Brown has trouble adjusting to the fighter plane the Navy introduced in 1950, the Vought F4U Corsair, whose bulky engine blocked visibility. That late-in-the-game change adds a level of suspense to the film’s airborne sequences — a few of which, like the early lighthouse run, exist simply to give audiences a taste of that same exhilaration these men experienced in the cockpit. While flying is a thrill, landing aboard an aircraft carrier can be downright nerve-racking. Not everyone survives this test.

After bonding in the skies, Brown invites Hudner over and introduces the white man to his wife (Christina Jackson) and child — “to see what a man’s fighting for,” as Hudner puts it. Despite this gesture, it takes nearly the entire film for Brown to accept his partner. Why? Hudner may have been ahead of his peers, but so much of his support comes easy — that is, at no personal risk. Brown makes that clear after he’s cited for disobeying a direct order in the film’s most electrifying sequence, a daredevil dogfight immediately followed by the bombing of a Korean bridge.

Reviewed at Toronto Film Festival (Special Presentations), Sept. 14, 2022. MPA Rating: PG-13. Running time: 139 MIN.

• Production: A Sony release of a Columbia Pictures, Black Label Media presentation of a Black Label Media production. Producers: Molly Smith, Rachel Smith, Thad Luckinbill, Trent Luckinbill. Executive producers: JD Dillard, Glen Powell.
• Crew: Director: JD Dillard. Screenplay: Jake Crane, Jonathan A.H. Stewart, based on the book by Adam Makos. Camera: Erik Messerschmidt. Editor: Billy Fox. Music: Chanda Dancy.
• With: Jonathan Majors, Glen Powell, Christina Jackson, Thomas Sadoski, Joe Jonas. (English, French, Korean dialogue)

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‘Devotion’ Delivers a Respectful Last Flight for a Forgotten Hero | Review 

While 'Devotion' may not look to reinvent the genre, it does carve out its own space in this year’s impressive slate of war films.

For audiences who enjoy films about high-flying pilots and the tragedy of war, 2022 has delivered a trio of films that nose-dive and army crawl their way through different wars and their associated war games. Top Gun: Maverick was an awe-inspiring legacy sequel, while All Quiet on the Western Front was a gut-wrenching war horror, but with Devotion, you get a harrowing biopic that is equal parts sky-bound epic and a sobering reminder of the real sacrifices of war.

Based on the true story of Naval Aviator Jesse Brown , Devotion ’s title may not immediately make sense, but as the story slowly unwinds, we start to see the layers of different forms of devotion. Jesse ( Jonathan Majors ) is devoted to his career in the Navy, he’s devoted to his wife Daisy ( Christina Jackson ) and their daughter Pam, both of which are very expected forms of devotion. But the exploration of devotion at the heart of the film is the unlikely friendship and camaraderie he finds with his wingman Tom Hudner ( Glen Powell ), and how that bond has carried his memory into the present decade.

Devotion doesn’t get bogged down in the politics of the Korean War, instead hoping that its audience knows enough about the conflict of the war to understand the broad strokes it paints around the Cold War, the Soviet Union, and the fight between North Korea and South Korea. This helps and hinders it to some degree, considering the Korean War is largely viewed as the “Forgotten War,” despite having a direct impact on modern warfare.

RELATED: 'Devotion': Director J.D. Dillard and Christina Jackson on Why You Should See the Film in a Movie Theater

J. D. Dillard approaches Jesse and Tom’s story from a place of great respect, but at the same time, he doesn’t fall prey to the temptation to sugarcoat the situation or to embellish the cut-and-dried story that Adam Makos ’ similarly titled book laid out. Jesse was the first Black man to complete the U.S. Navy's basic flight training program, he was hailed for breaking barriers, profiled by The Associated Press, and photographed for Life magazine. But he also faced racism—from his neighbors, from his peers, and from the other soldiers that they were shipped off to war with. Dillard shirks the notion of showing opinions changed by harrowing heroism, there is no magical happily ever after, and Tom isn’t treated like a hero simply for being a good friend to Jesse. It’s a rare and welcomed decision in a long list of biopics that dishonor their subjects.

Devotion will likely be subjected to comparisons between it and Maverick , which aren’t entirely unwarranted when Powell is back in aviators for the second time this year, and the story follows familiar beats. But rarely does war or its various war games stray from an anticipated path. Beyond a handful of familiar beats, drawing a serious comparison between the two would be a disservice to what Devotion aims to be. Dillard doesn’t lean into spectacle or awe, instead, he relies on the powerhouse of emotions that Majors delivers in his role, paired with the earnest compassion that Powell brings.

The only area where Devotion truly falls short of perfection is the unremarkable cinematography that plays against the film’s scenery. Cannes is stunning, with brilliant blue skies and rows of pastel-colored architecture, but beyond this location, its other settings feel washed out and made for technicolor. While it’s possible that cinematographer Erik Messerschmidt ( Mank ) designed this as an ode to the 1950s of it all, it, unfortunately, shrouds scenes in unnecessary darkness that erodes the vibrancy of the emotion on display.

Despite the impressive cast of Daren Kagasoff , Nick Hargrove , Joseph Cross , Spencer Neville , and Joe Jonas (to name only a handful), Devotion doesn’t take the time to really flesh out the ensemble, and it overlooks some of the more necessary connective tissue in its rush to deliver a tidy 139-minute story. While this isn’t exactly to the detriment of the film’s plot, it does leave audiences wanting more emotional resonance—even as they’re tearing up at the film’s somber conclusion. Most of that falls on the shoulders of the film’s scribes Jake Crane and Jonathan A. Stewart who approach the story from a thousand-foot drop. It ultimately does work to get the audience from points A and B to C, but it left me wanting to see more of the charm and fun of Cannes—which is tragically cut short by the realities of war.

Devotion wouldn’t be half the movie it is without Majors and Powell at the center of the emotional rollercoaster, they’re a dynamite duo that effortlessly delivers on believable conviviality and a sort of brotherhood that would propel someone to make it their life’s mission to bring the other home. They capture the connection between Jesse and Tom that transcended their own deaths and bring a performance worthy of their legacy.

While Devotion may not look to reinvent the genre, it does carve out its own space in this year’s impressive slate of war films. It’s a solid, straight-laced story, that doesn’t shy away from the realities of war or the 1950s. Once it finds its wings in the final act, it soars to a place of real power.

Devotion comes to theaters on November 23. Check out our interview with Jonathan Majors and Glen Powell below:

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‘devotion’ review: despite a passionate jonathan majors, this korean war epic seldom takes flight.

Based on the true story of the U.S. Navy's first Black aviator, the film will land on a number of IMAX screens when it bows Nov. 23.

By Michael Rechtshaffen

Michael Rechtshaffen

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If you believe the marketing, then Devotion , an inspirational aerial combat epic set during the Korean War, would like very much to be thought of as Top Gun: Corsair.

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Five years have passed since the end of World War II, and, this being 1950, Ensign Brown’s presence in the U.S. Navy’s basic flight training program doesn’t exactly go unnoticed; he constantly finds himself brushing off both pointed and casually racist remarks from his fellow officers. When he first meets up with Hudner, a straight-arrow new recruit, Brown proceeds to form a respectful if cautiously arm’s-length friendship with the Annapolis graduate.

In adapting the Makos novel, screenwriters Jake Crane and Jonathan A. H. Stewart seem to be content to trot out the usual war picture platitudes with stiff dialogue that has all the personality of an instruction manual. Meanwhile, director Dillard favors drawn-out dramatic pauses that keep getting in the way of crucial tension or momentum. Even a sequence during a leave in Cannes, when a chance beach encounter with Elizabeth Taylor (Serinda Swan) results in an invitation to party with her at a casino, ends up feeling lifeless and needlessly. protracted.

Despite those considerable obstacles in his path, Majors, whose recent credits include Lovecraft Country and The Harder They Fall , invests a tremendous amount of emotional conviction in his character — whether he’s playfully engaging at home with his devoted wife, Daisy (Christina Jackson), or castigating his reflection in a mirror, painfully reciting every hurtful/racist thing that was ever directed at him.

Powell, who also appeared in Top Gun: Maverick , isn’t given as much to work with — his character is a virtual cypher by comparison, with little in the way of backstory, and only really finds a semblance of purpose when he must come to the rescue of his injured partner.

In the absence of fuller character development, their fellow flyers, including those played by Joe Jonas and Nick Hargrove, have even less opportunity to make an impression.

Fortunately, cinematographer Erik Messerschmidt ( Mank ) manages to liven things up with those IMAX-worthy aerial visuals, which really didn’t require Chanda Dancy’s over-modulated music cues to kick in at the slightest provocation, even in the absence of a Lady Gaga on the soundtrack.

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Gripping historical drama about wartime friendship.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Promotes courage, integrity, perseverance, and tea

Jesse is hardworking and determined. He's a devote

Tells historic story of first Black U.S. naval avi

A naval aviator gets in a fight with U.S. Army sol

Married couple kisses several times, embraces, and

The "N" word is said at least four times, as are o

Jesse is given a Rolex watch.

Several adult characters smoke cigarettes. Some of

Parents need to know that Devotion is a historical drama based on military historian Adam Makos' book about the real-life relationship between the first Black naval aviator, Ensign Jesse Brown (Jonathan Majors), and his White squadron mate, Lieutenant Tom Hudner (Glen Powell), during the Korean War. The movie…

Positive Messages

Promotes courage, integrity, perseverance, and teamwork. Encourages interracial and intercultural friendship and bonding and shows how the military can speed up the intensity of relationships. Not all heroes live to tell their stories. Black pioneers in military history deserve acknowledgement for the sacrifices they made and the racism they had to deal with on a regular basis.

Positive Role Models

Jesse is hardworking and determined. He's a devoted father and husband and is disciplined in his work with the Navy. He's confident but also humble. Daisy is a supportive and encouraging wife and a loving mother.

Diverse Representations

Tells historic story of first Black U.S. naval aviator, Jesse Brown. Jesse (Jonathan Majors) doesn't want to be seen solely as a pioneer, but he also understands what it means for the other Black U.S. Navy recruits to see him succeed. He and his wife, Daisy (Christina Jackson), deal with racism (e.g., their neighbor who calls the cops on them for "loud music," slurs thrown at Jesse by White sailors and soldiers), but they also focus on their marriage, family, goals. Tom (Glen Powell) is a main character too, but he's not depicted as a "White savior." Black sailors rally around to watch Jesse land his plane, later give him a special gift to acknowledge what he means to them. Director J.D. Dillard is Black.

Did we miss something on diversity? Suggest an update.

Violence & Scariness

A naval aviator gets in a fight with U.S. Army soldiers who make racist comments to Jesse. A pilot mistimes his landing, crashes his plane in the ocean, and dies. War scenes include pilots and soldiers involved in air and ground battle against the allied forces of North Korea, China, and the Soviet Union. The fighting includes dropping bombs on bridges, soldiers running for cover and exchanging fire on the ground, and shots of injured, dying, and dead men.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Married couple kisses several times, embraces, and dances. Men fall over themselves to talk to and flirt with Elizabeth Taylor. Sailors and soldiers flirt with French women at a bar. A commanding officer tells the aviators they aren't in the service just to fly and screw.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

The "N" word is said at least four times, as are other racial terms like "colored," "monkey" and "black ass." Also occasional use of words including "s--t," "screw," "damn," "a--hole," "shut up," and more.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Products & Purchases

Drinking, drugs & smoking.

Several adult characters smoke cigarettes. Some of the sailors strap cigarettes to their body to sell while on shore leave. The aviators and other soldiers end up on R&R in France, where they drink a lot at bars, hotel casinos, and cafés. A couple of adults drink beer.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Devotion is a historical drama based on military historian Adam Makos' book about the real-life relationship between the first Black naval aviator, Ensign Jesse Brown ( Jonathan Majors ), and his White squadron mate, Lieutenant Tom Hudner ( Glen Powell ), during the Korean War. The movie features wartime military action that leads to casualties due to aerial fights, ground fire, and anti-aircraft fire during a dangerous mission. American soldiers are wounded and die. In one case, a pilot dies when he crashes into the water instead of landing on an aircraft carrier. Many adult characters, both military and civilian, smoke cigarettes (historically accurate for the era), and sailors and soldiers drink and flirt their way through a short leave in France. An affectionate married couple is shown kissing, embracing, and dancing. Language is occasional but includes racial slurs (the "N" word, "monkey," "black ass," and more) as well as "s--t" and "damn." Families who watch together can talk about the historical context, the messages about the added challenges and overt racism that pioneering Black sailors and soldiers faced, and why this is a story not only about breaking the color line but also about friendship and dedication. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

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• Parents say (3)
• Kids say (6)

Based on 3 parent reviews

Great true story!

It lacks being inspiring and gripping but it does have some good moments, what's the story.

DEVOTION follows the story of how Ensign Jesse Brown ( Jonathan Majors ), the United States' first Black naval aviator, forged a close friendship with his White wingman, Lieutenant Thomas Hudner ( Glen Powell ). At first, Jesse, who's originally from Hattiesburg, Mississippi, is apprehensive about Tom, a recent graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. But as they get to know each other, Tom proves that he's not a typical (i.e., racist) officer. Jesse, who keeps to himself, has a loving wife, Daisy (Christina Jackson), and baby girl back home, while serious-minded Tom is married to the job. In 1950, as part of the Navy's Fighter Squadron 32, they find themselves training with an F4U Corsair, a difficult-to-land plane. As they train and prepare for eventual deployment to the Korean War, the two form a trust that leads to a remarkable sacrifice in battle.

Is It Any Good?

Majors and Powell's performances elevate this biographical war drama about the United States' first Black Navy pilot into a touching character study. Working from Jake Crane and Jonathan Stewart's adaptation of Adam Makos' award-winning military history book, director J.D. Dillard creates a memorable tale of two heroes of the Forgotten War. While the movie can't capture all of the book's details, its nearly two-and-a-half-hour runtime does provide the highlights of Brown and Hudner's unique relationship, their shared devotion to duty, and the institutional racism that Brown faced in the desegregated military. Both Majors and Powell do excellent work, as does Jackson, who lights up every scene she's in as Jesse's sunny, supportive Daisy. Majors' portrayal is one of quiet intensity, of keeping his rage in check, of not being able to share the emotional load of being the only Black man in the crew with any of his mates. Thomas Sadoski stands out as the squadron's division leader Commander Dick Cevoli, and Canadian actress Serinda Swan memorably plays Elizabeth Taylor, whom the sailors meet while on leave in Cannes.

Although Devotion is a trifle overlong, the third act is tautly woven, with pulse-pounding action sequences -- including the climactic situation that's the main reason Brown and Hudner's story has survived for 70 years. The movie is reminiscent of an episode of the acclaimed limited series Band of Brothers , but with a narrower focus on two men and, to a lesser extent, their squadron mates. Because of his isolated status as the United States' first Black Navy fighter pilot (the Tuskegee Airmen were in the Army), Jesse is understandably uncomfortable being depicted by military press as the Jackie Robinson of the Navy. He just wants to serve his nation and return to his girls. Hudner, meanwhile, is depicted in his interactions with Jesse as at times conflicted and well-intentioned, but also clueless -- until he finally starts seeing Jesse as a whole person. Chanda Dancy's powerful score is accompanied by a touching original ballad, "Not Alone," from Joe Jonas (who co-stars as Marty Goode, another member of the 32) and Khalid. Brown was undeniably alone as the sole Black pilot in his squadron, but Hudner had his back and refused to let him go without a fight.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about the violence in Devotion . Is it necessary to the story? Does realistic military violence impact viewers differently than stylized or fantasy violence does?

Discuss the role that race and racism played in Jesse Brown's naval career. Why was he reluctant to be written about for being a Black aviator? What made his relationship with Tom Hudner special?

Who was fighting in the Korean War, and why? How does the movie explain why countries like China and the United States were involved? Where could you learn more about the "Forgotten War"? If you've read the book the movie was based on, how does the movie compare?

Whom do you consider a role model in the story? What character strengths do they demonstrate? Why are courage , integrity , perseverance , and teamwork important?

Jesse is shown preparing for a difficult mission by using extremely negative self-talk in a mirror. Do you think that's a healthy way to motivate? Why, or why not?

Movie Details

• In theaters : November 23, 2022
• On DVD or streaming : January 8, 2023
• Cast : Jonathan Majors , Glen Powell , Christina Jackson
• Director : J.D. Dillard
• Inclusion Information : Black directors, Black actors
• Studio : Columbia Pictures
• Genre : Drama
• Topics : Friendship , History
• Character Strengths : Courage , Integrity , Perseverance , Teamwork
• Run time : 139 minutes
• MPAA rating : PG-13
• MPAA explanation : strong language, some war action/violence, and smoking
• Award : Common Sense Selection
• Last updated : January 3, 2024

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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Devotion (2022) Film Review

• Jonathan Vargas
• November 23, 2022

Jam-packed with powerful performances and stunning imagery, Devotion is one of the most emotionally resonant action movies in years.

After Top Gun: Maverick ’s astonishing success, who would have thought that the world needed another naval pilot movie? Based on Adam Makos’ book of the same name telling the relatively unknown true story of war hero Jessie Brown (Jonathan Majors), Devotion explores the friendship between him and fighter pilot Tom Hudner (Glen Powell), and how they became some of the Navy’s most celebrated wingmen. Even though it will be hard for this film to soar to the heights of Top Gun , it deserves equal praise at the bare minimum. 

Devotion opens with Tom Hudner, a “pretty face” that has recently arrived at a Naval Air Base where he joins a group of men who will eventually head out to support the war. Here, he meets Jesse Brown, a man who you can tell has had to fight hard to be where he is today, even before we see him interact with anyone. Over time, we start to see a friendship form, a strong one based on mutual respect. This becomes especially important when Hudner meets Jesse’s wife (Christina Jackson) and she asks him to look out for her husband, especially since he has a daughter that will be awaiting his return. Once we get familiarized with Jesse’s family and fellow aviators, it is time for the Navy to ship out to the Korean War and help in any way possible. 

Around twenty minutes into Devotion , we see Jesse Brown look at himself in the mirror delivering an unusual pep talk. It was right at this moment that I knew that I was watching something truly special . What Jonathan Majors is able to do in this one-minute scene made me more emotionally invested in Brown’s story than most action movies that have come out in the last decade. He brings such humanity and heart to this role, adding yet another brilliant performance to his resume.

Having such a great actor as the lead greatly benefits the film of course, but without Jake Crane and Jonathan Stewart’s screenplay’s people-centered narrative , no one, including Majors, would have had the ability to shine as well as they do. It has been a growing trend in recent action movies that the filmmakers’ main focus is on the spectacle of action, but, with Devotion, the main goal is to pay respect to the men who fought in this war over anything else. This is such a smart decision because it also allows Glen Powell , who also serves as an executive producer to give a career-best performance. Having both Majors and Powell on screen together is proof that movie stars still exist. 

Not only do the above-the-line aspects of Devotion excel, but most of the technical qualities are some of the best of the year. Erik Messerschmidt’s cinematography gives us beautiful visuals that constantly remind us of the awe that the characters feel as they are traveling the world. Not only does the cinematography make you feel the same emotions as these characters, but the camera work does too. There are certain sequences, where even if you don’t know the characters well, it feels as if you are right there with them on that ship . This is extremely hard to pull off, especially with war movies, when the audience is expecting death at some point, but the combination of an immensely effective score by Chanda Dancy, emotionally driven editing, and a talented ensemble makes this a story that goes straight to your heart. 

Walking out of Devotion , I was convinced it was one of the best films of the year , and, the more I think about it, the more I realize that this movie really has it all. It delivers the action that you would expect from a war epic, with a strikingly strong emotional core. We get to learn about the hero that Jesse Brown was to both the country and his family, and how his determination to be the first Black naval aviator meant so much more than just his great achievements during the Korean War. From a technical perspective, all elements are top-tier, and the nearly two and a half hour run time flies by. Everyone should walk, run, or fly to their nearest theater to see Devotion , a film that many are sure to love and will stay with them for quite some time. 

Devotion is now available to watch on digital and on demand.

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Metacritic reviews

• 83 The Playlist Jourdain Searles The Playlist Jourdain Searles 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.
• 70 Vanity Fair Vanity Fair Devotion is thoroughly well-executed, but it’s rousing when Majors gets to play outside the box and show you something new.
• 70 Film Threat Andy Howell Film Threat Andy Howell This drama is about a real war, actual people, and things that matter. While it probably won’t make a billion dollars at the box office, for my money, a true story well told in a heartfelt way is invaluable and important.
• 70 Variety Peter Debruge Variety Peter Debruge Director JD Dillard dazzles with see-it-in-Imax airborne sequences, but the meat of the film focuses on the friendship between Brown (“Da 5 Bloods” star Jonathan Majors) and his white wingman, played by Glen Powell, the “Hidden Figures” actor who most recently appeared in “Top Gun: Maverick.”
• 70 Screen Rant Screen Rant Devotion soars when least expected and is brought to life by its talented ensemble cast.
• 65 Paste Magazine Paste Magazine That it was made with some sense of care for the real-life figures at its center makes it slightly more admirable than other movies of its type. So also does the welcome depth that Majors, the script and director J.D. Dillard give Brown. But outside that sense of commitment, Devotion is an unremarkable experience.
• 60 The Guardian Charles Bramesco The Guardian Charles Bramesco Training its crosshair on the ingrained prejudice of the military and the question of how well-meaning white allies can best support its undoing, the film compensates for relatively middling action set pieces with a stolid maturity.
• 60 Slashfilm Chris Evangelista Slashfilm Chris Evangelista Devotion is far more interested in what's happening on earth rather than in the sky. It's a character drama with occasional bursts of action, and while there's certainly nothing wrong with that, the film ends up rather muddled. You can see the bones of something greater here, and Dillard remains a filmmaker worth paying attention to.
• 58 IndieWire David Ehrlich IndieWire David Ehrlich Devotion can be stiff and hackneyed at the best of times — it’s nothing if not a war movie that has seen too many other war movies — but it lifts a few inches off the ground whenever it locks in on the loneliness that Brown must have felt as he flew towards an aircraft carrier whose landing signal officer may have wanted him to crash, or soared in formation with people who might have been happy to shoot him down.
• 50 The Hollywood Reporter Michael Rechtshaffen The Hollywood Reporter Michael Rechtshaffen 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.
• See all 30 reviews on Metacritic.com
• See all external reviews for Devotion

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