Devotion movie review & film summary (2022) | Roger Ebert (2025)

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Devotion movie review & film summary (2022) | Roger Ebert (1)

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How we define an activist is at the heart of director J.D. Dillard’s “Devotion.” Adapted from Adam Makos’ book Devotion: An Epic Story of Heroism, Friendship, and Sacrifice, Dillard's latestfilm tells a civil rights story centered on Jesse Brown (Jonathan Majors), a groundbreaking Black naval pilot and Korean War hero. But Brown isn’t your prototypical changemaker, and “Devotion” isn’t your usual anti-racism film.

Though it also concerns the friendship formed by Brown and white wingman Tom Hudner (Glen Powell, also an executive producer on the picture), the film also subverts previous cinematic pairings between Black folks and white people during segregation: “Green Book,” “Driving Miss Daisy,” “The Defiant Ones,” which are steeped in stereotypes and proliferated with magical Negros who have the power to end racism if only their white counterpart could see their humanity. These films, of course, posit the prejudiced white person as a kind of hero, while othering the person it claims to care about. “Devotion” walks the tightropes between discord and harmony, hard lessons and heroic triumphs, and full-throated allyship and useless white guilt with aplomb.

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Dillard's film opens in 1948 with Hudner’s arrival at the Naval Air Station Pensacola in Pensacola, Florida. He enters a cacophonous men’s locker room populated by wrathful slurs. These vulgar barbs are not emanating from a mob. They’re coming from one man: Brown. Hudner never sees Brown shouting at himself, as the tears this Black man sheds aren’t for Hudner (though Dillard and cinematographer Erik Messerschmidt do show us those tears through an arresting fourth-wall-breaking mirror shot). The calm, naive, all-American Hudner casts a different shadow from the quiet, reclusive, no-nonsense Brown. In terms of temperament, they shouldn’t be friends. Screenwriters Jake Crane and Jonathan Stewart don’t try to force the issue either, which gives “Devotion” uncommon freedom. Instead, this thrilling, pulsating journey is more concerned with the two men forming a bond through shared respect rather than a fantastical misunderstanding of the place and time.

Brown is an aviator with so many unseen wounds; The obscenities he yells at himself spring from a little book where he keeps every slur that’s ever been hurled in his direction. One of the Navy’s first African American aviators, Brown experienced bodily harm and several attempts on his life from his segregationist “comrades” in his early career. We don’t see the violence that Brown endured. Dillard is too smart for such low-hanging fruit. We instead witness the repercussions on Brown’s psyche through Majors’ adept physical performance, a tight bundle of a swaggering gait belying the weight on his broad shoulders and tension wrapped around his face.

“Devotion” chronicles the steady progression Hudner makes toward understanding Brown without infantilizing this proud pilot. Brown, in turn, slowly brings Hudner into his orbit and we’re introduced to Brown’s daughter Pamela and his devoted wife Daisy (Christina Jackson). Dillard juxtaposes this home life—where Brown can leave the pressures and racism, where his entire frame and visage lightens with joy—with the difficult landscape of being the only Black man in a sea of white naval aviators. Jackson is a burst of jubilant air as Daisy, offering the picture some much-needed levity and grace. And in many ways, the bond shared by Daisy and Jesse, more so than desegregation or war, provides the picture with a palpable heartbeat.

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But conflict does come: The Korean War sends Brown and Hudner and their squadron to a carrier bound for the Mediterranean Sea. Their deployment requires the pilots to train on the F4U Corsair, an aircraft that worries Brown. The drilling on these planes becomes a tad repetitive mostly because the difficulties, even though Brown feels them, can be too technical for a general audience goer (though I’m sure aviation nuts will love these details).

The aerial dogfights in “Devotion” are simply thrilling. Many people will immediately compare this Korean War flick to “Top Gun: Maverick,” but “Devotion” stands on its own. It’s an immersive experience where the roar within the cockpit thrills; the cinematography by Messerschmidt (“Mank”) firmly establishes us in the dimensions of the skirmishes; the editing by Billy Fox (“Dolemite is My Name”) is tightly wound to gripping ends.

For Dillard, Brown’s fight against racism on the ground continues in the sky, where the pilot finds his greatest freedom. In this picture, there is no visible physical violence against Black folks as a means for civil rights or to be seen as human by Hudner. Brown’s existence is his protest. His plane is his sit-in. A two-and-a-half-hour film that literally flies by, “Devotion” is a graduation of sorts by Dillard, from his compact genre film canvas to a spectacular large-scale onslaught. Dillard manages to balance the several concerns of anti-racism movies with the heroism of Brown without succumbing to maudlin, craven techniques. Even toward the aching end, “Devotion” manages a perfect landing.

Only in theaters today, November 23rd.

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Film Credits

Devotion movie review & film summary (2022) | Roger Ebert (9)

Devotion (2022)

Rated PG-13for strong language, some war action/violence, and smoking.

138 minutes

Cast

Jonathan Majorsas Jesse Brown

Glen Powellas Thomas J. Hudner Jr.

Christina Jacksonas Daisy Brown

Thomas Sadoskias Dick Cevoli

Joe Jonasas Marty Goode

Joseph Crossas Charlie Ward

Daren Kagasoffas Bill Koenig

Serinda Swanas Elizabeth Taylor

Nick Hargroveas Carol Mohring

Director

  • J.D. Dillard

Writer (based on the book by)

  • Adam Makos

Writer

  • Jake Crane
  • Jonathan Stewart

Cinematographer

  • Erik Messerschmidt

Editor

  • Billy Fox

Composer

  • Chanda Dancy

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Devotion movie review & film summary (2022) | Roger Ebert (2025)

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Devotion movie review & film summary (2022) | Roger Ebert? ›

How we define an activist is at the heart of director J.D. Dillard's “Devotion

Devotion
Devotion is a 2022 American biographical war film based on the 2015 book Devotion: An Epic Story of Heroism, Friendship, and Sacrifice by Adam Makos, which tells of the comradeship between naval officers Jesse L. Brown and Tom Hudner during the Korean War.
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Devotion_(2022_film)
.” Adapted from Adam Makos' book Devotion: An Epic Story of Heroism, Friendship, and Sacrifice, Dillard's latest film tells a civil rights story centered on Jesse Brown (Jonathan Majors), a groundbreaking Black naval pilot and Korean War hero ...

What happens in the Devotion movie in 2022? ›

Hudner sees that Brown is alive but trapped in his cockpit and deliberately crashes his own plane in the clearing in order to aid Brown. Though he puts out an engine fire, Hudner is unable to extract the wounded Brown from the wreckage, and Brown dies shortly after a Marine Sikorsky helicopter arrives to assist him.

What is the overall message of the movie Devotion? ›

“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.

What is the plot of Devotion? ›

Is the movie Devotion worth seeing? ›

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. Fresh score.

Why was Devotion a flop? ›

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

Is Devotion based on a true story? ›

#DevotionMovie is now on Digital and streaming on Paramount+: https://paramnt. us/DevotionMovie.

What happens at the end of Devotion? ›

The film ends with a note that Brown's remains have never been recovered from North Korea, and that Hudner and Brown's families remain close friends to this day.

What is the main purpose of Devotion? ›

Devotionals Provide a Time for Daily Prayer and Meditation

They are helpful because time for meditation and prayer is built into the format. Some people prefer shorter devotions and others find in-depth reflections more suitable.

What is the short message for Devotion? ›

Lord, help me trust in you for the best in everything I do because I know you have the best in stock for me and never disappoint me. You promised to take care of everything, and we should not worry; you care about me. So please, dear Lord, Take care of everything today. Amen.

Does Devotion have a sad ending? ›

This proves true in Devotion's devastating ending, when Hudner intentionally crashes his plane to try and save Brown. Tragically, Hudner is unable to help Brown escape from his aircraft and eventually has to leave the site.

What happened to the girl in Devotion? ›

Instead, as instructed by Mentor Heuh after a séance, Feng-yu performs a dark ritual by submerging his daughter in a bathtub filled with rice wine, then locking her up in the bathroom for seven days, presumably causing her death.

What is the point of Devotion? ›

Devotions help us worship God with enthusiasm and love. Daily devotions reach into places of encouragement, inspiration, motivation, worship, enthusiasm, and love.

What is the message of the movie Devotion? ›

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.

What are critics saying about the movie Devotion? ›

Too slow but very touching. Devotion is paced like a documentary rather than a feature narrative film. The plot doesn't have an inciting incident, nor is there really any driving force to give the story purpose. It isn't a plot so much as a portrait of characters who happened to be involved in the Korean War.

Were the planes in Devotion real? ›

A variety of authentic Korean War fighter planes were brought in from out of state, including F4U Corsairs, F8F Bearcats, AD Skyraiders, a Mig 15, and Sikorsky H0S5-1s.

Did Jesse survive in Devotion? ›

Hudner purposely crashes his plane in the same clearing to save his friend. Though he's able to put out the fire, he's not able to save Jesse from the wreckage, and Brown sadly passes. The way that Devotion recounts Jesse's death, and Hudner's attempt to save him is completely accurate.

Does Devotion end sad? ›

Devotion Concludes With Jesse's Heartbreaking Death.

What happens at the end of movie The Invitation 2022? ›

As a last resort, Evie kicks Dracula in the groin, pushing him into the fire that consumes the manor. The vampire screams in pain while Evie's vampiric traits disappear. Dracula is dead, Evie is once again human, and a long history of death is finally over.

What happens in Devotion Netflix? ›

A seemingly happy marriage begins to dissolve when the husband's faithfulness is called into question, and both spouses become tempted by other desires. Watch all you want.

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