Devotion

Reviewed by LCDR Chip Lancaster, USN (Ret.)

It’s1950 and a young LTJG Tom Hudner, played by Glen Powell (Hidden Figures, Top Gun: Maverick), is driving to his new duty station at Quonset Point, Rhode Island. He’s assigned to VF-32 flying Grumman Bearcats. He’s putting his gear in the locker room when he hears a voice coming from somewhere inside. He goes to investigate and meets ENS Jesse Brown, played by Jonathan Majors (The Harder They Fall, Creed III), who walks right past him with no acknowledgement. Later in the ready room, Tom is teamed with Jesse as his wingman. They take off on a familiarization flight of the area along with some non-regulation flat-hatting and lighthouse buzzing. Everyone retires for the evening with Jesse going home to his wife, Daisy, played by Christina Jackson (The Night House, Outsiders), and young daughter Pam.

The squadron’s out on the ramp the next day to be introduced to their new aircraft by their Commanding Officer (CO) LCDR Dick Cevoli, played by Tom Sadoski (John Wick, John Wick: Chapter 2). Their new aircraft is the gullwing Vought F4U Corsair which they must rapidly qualify in to prepare for deployment. They will be deploying to the Mediterranean to counter possible anti-NATO Russian threats. But first, they need to qualify with landings on USS Leyte, CV 32. Jesse has trouble getting used to the new aircraft because of its long nose obstructing forward visibility, but successfully traps on his second attempt. That night Daisy tells Tom to disregard Jesse’s strong-silent-type act, he really does have a sense of humor, and she makes Tom promise to be there for him. Leyte leaves for the Med, where their port of call is Cannes, France. In town, Jesse meets Elizabeth Taylor who invites Jesse and his fellow Naval Aviators to join her at the casino. They meet Liz in the casino and later have a fight with Marines before making it back to the ship.

The next day they’re informed that the Chinese and North Koreans are overrunning Korea and Leyte is leaving to support the war there. They’re off Korea with the mission of flack suppression for a bridge bombing mission by Panthers (Grumman F9F). The Corsairs are armed with rockets and guns. Off the carrier, enroute to the target, the CO can’t get his gear retracted and passes command of the squadron to Tom. The flak at the bridge is incredibly heavy and the group gets jumped by a MiG-15. Tom and Jesse break off to chase the Mig while the rest of the group bears down on the flak guns.

They trap the MiG in a canyon with Tom shooting it down. The flak suppression is successful with the exception of the Chinese gunners on the Chinese side of the river which Tom was warned not to shoot at. Tom tells everyone to RTB to Leyte due to the heavy Chinese flak that they can’t suppress even though one span of the dual span bridge is still intact. Jesse rolls out of the formation against Tom’s orders to make a rocket run against the bridge. He manages to get through the flak and successfully knocks out the remaining span.

Everyone makes it back to the ship. Jesse, however, is being written up for insubordination for disobeying Tom’s order to not return to the bridge. Tom talks to Jesse saying he just told it like it was in his report, not trying to hurt him. It’s the Air Wing Commander who wants to officially reprimand him. Tom goes to his squadron mates who all write petitions supporting Jesse’s actions. When Tom brings the petitions back to the stateroom, he hears voices like he did that first time at Quonset Point. When he goes inside, Jesse explains that it's part of a ritual he does before any real stressful event he has to face, by saying every hateful slur and word that he’s ever heard against him. He has done it since he was a boy.

The viewer has already witnessed it before the deck landing quals and the flak suppression mission. Tom’s papers will do nothing for him. Jesse explains that it's not the same for him as it would be for any other pilot in the squadron. They tried to drown him during flight school swim quals because they didn’t believe a Black man could swim and they’re trying to get him now, and there’s nothing he can do to stop it.

Jesse’s sitting on the ship’s island overlooking the flight deck when he is approached by one of the crew’s black Sailors. He gives Jesse a watch that the other brothers bought and had engraved for him in Cannes. They support Jesse 100 percent. Jesse thanks him and shakes his hand. Jesse’s still on the flight schedule and the squadron gets a new mission. They have to provide close air support for Marines surrounded by enemy troops at Chosin Reservoir. Therein lies the final action which is hot and heavy and I don’t want to spoil it for you.

The film is based on the 2015 book, Devotion: An Epic Story of Heroism, Friendship, and Sacrifice by Adam Makos relating an actual incident during the Korean War. The film was directed by J.D. Dillard, a Navy brat whose father was an NFO and the second African-American selected to fly for the Blue Angels. J.D. assembled a great cast of young actors, with amazing special effects, including some actual period aircraft: several F4U Corsairs, two F8F Bearcats, an AD Skyraider, a MiG-15, and a Sikorsky HO5S. The aircraft carrier Leyte is a full scale set built on an airstrip in Georgia so that actual aircraft could take off and land. Devotion tells a remarkable story, putting you in the cockpits, ready rooms, and foxholes with the actors. If you like aviation movies with lots of air action, you will love Devotion; but know too that it is both evocative and at times somber and highly emotional in its treatment of racial prejudice and discrimination in the Navy. I give it two thumbs up. Make sure you stay for the closing credits, they’re different, well done, and give perspective to the movie. Break out the popcorn and soda and settle back for an exciting and meaningful ride.