In the 72 hours Leading up to D-Day, and with the fate of the free world hanging in the balance, General Dwight D. Eisenhower (Brendan Fraser) and Captain James Stagg (Andrew Scott), a meteorological expert, are tasked with deciding when to launch the largest and most dangerous seaborne invasion in history.
When I did my preview of the year, I marked Pressure as my most anticipated film of 2026 and boy, it did not disappoint. I am endlessly fascinated with World War 2, and a lot of movies on the subject are amongst my favourites. Many of them feature a brief period of commanders in rooms making decisions before they get to the action. Often those scenes are the best ones, and the majority of the running time here is spent with those preparations, and I found them utterly engrossing.
Scott underlines his credentials as the best male actor of his generation with a superbly nuanced performance as the pompous but brilliant meteorologist. There are a couple of small quiet moments with a glass of water and a piano lid where Scott holds the screen in a way that few others can. Fraser is not an actor that I usually appreciate, but he does well as the bombastic general.
Chris Messina is good as Stagg’s colleague who does not agree with his methods. I liked both Damian Lewis’ portrayal of the fastidious Montgomery and Con O’Neill’s Leigh-Mallory. But, of the supporting cast, it is Kerry Condon who really shines as Kay Summersby, Eisenhower’s aide and voice of reason.
The cast have a lot to work with as David Haig and Anthony Maras’ is literate and exciting. With the help of Volker Bertelmann’s score, director Maras keeps the story moving at a good clip.
Pressure is currently my film of the year front runner.
Rating: 9.5 out of 10