One thing I must commend Andrew Maras’ World War 2 drama for, is that it knows precisely what it wants to be. Based on a 2014 play of the same name, Pressure cements itself firmly in the Political War biopic genre occupied by films such as Darkest Hour and Operation Mincemeat. Thus, fans of this sub-genre can take pleasure in Pressure’s tight pacing, treatment of real-life recognisable politicians and over the top melodramatic acting. I unfortunately am not a fan of this sub-genre, so I left the film extremely underwhelmed.

Pressure follows the story of meteorologist Captain James Stagg (Andrew Scott) as then General later 34th President of the United States Dwight D. Eisenhower (Brendan Fraser) recruits him to provide a weather forecast for the D-Day invasion of France. Whilst providing the forecast, Stagg butts heads with American meteorologist Colonel Krick (Chris Messina) and brash British General Montgomery (Damian Lewis) but takes a shine to Eisenhower’s private secretary Kay Summersby (Kerry Condon). In a cast full of talent, it is hard to pick a standout. Granted, Scott delivers some memorable rage led monologues throughout as no one believes his predictions, but for me the highlight is Condon. She has an ability in films like The Banshees of Inisherin to provide some Irish feminine wit in an otherwise patriarchal society, and here is no different. Condon also knows how to keep her performance perfectly understated, never going too far as some actors do.

This brings me to the weakest part of Pressure, Brendan Fraser’s performance as Eisenhower. Famously, Eisenhower was only 5ft 10 inches tall, whilst Fraser comes in at a staggering 6ft 3 ½. He often looks like an Action Man doll some 6-year-old has poorly dressed up and is masquerading as a soldier. Fraser has the same puppy dog eyes previously shown in Rental Family and The Whale, which do not fit Eisenhower’s character. Granted, the general is traumatised by the failure of Operation Tiger, the first failed assault on France, but Eisenhower needs to be strong during these testing times, not on the verge of tears. Also, his dialogue is sometimes delivered in the same manner as a spoilt 11-year-old child, whining and shouting in a manner that is meant to seem intimidating, but just is not.

Andrew Maras has also opted to repurpose archival footage of D-Day into the narrative through the utilisation of A.I. This is extremely obvious to the spectator as a lazy excuse for filmmaking and really weighs the film down for me. His directorial style also never seems to really go anywhere, stuck in this weird 4:3 aspect ratio that does not seem to say anything other than tell Stagg’s story.

Overall, Pressure is an incredibly bland WW2 political biopic that does nothing to differentiate itself from films that came before, culminating in a boring and forgettable experience.

Three Stars.

By Isaac Bennett-Gregory