‘The Lost Bus’ turns the catastrophe of the 2018 Camp fire into a disaster movie

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Disasters happen frequently and are often terrifying, whether caused by natural forces combined with human error, or by events that could have been prevented. This raises a difficult question when it comes to disaster movies: how much is too much when it comes to portraying these events?

Director Paul Greengrass is different from filmmakers like Irwin Allen and Roland Emmerich, who are known for big-budget disaster movies filled with famous actors. Greengrass, with his background in documentaries, focuses on real-life tragedies, as seen in films like “United 93” and “Bloody Sunday.” His raw and realistic style avoids celebrity appearances and instead concentrates on serious issues like terrorism and its impact on communities, bringing a sense of urgent intelligence to difficult subjects.

In his new film, “The Lost Bus,” starring Matthew McConaughey and America Ferrera, director Paul Greengrass attempts to combine his signature realistic style with a more traditional, heroic narrative. The film is based on the true story of a desperate effort to rescue schoolchildren during the devastating 2018 Camp fire in Paradise, California. While the combination is sometimes a bit uneven, the result is often powerfully moving and immersive.

While not as gripping as Paul Greengrass’s “Captain Phillips,” which felt incredibly realistic and exciting, “The Lost Bus” feels more calculated. Though it has moments of intense suspense, they’re interspersed with scenes that seem designed primarily to develop the characters – a clear result of Greengrass and Brad Ingelsby’s focus on a traditional three-act story structure.

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Matthew McConaughey stars as Kevin McKay, a bus driver whose life is already full of hardship before the devastating Paradise fire. He’s struggling financially, his dog is sick, his father recently passed away (and it wasn’t a close relationship), he’s estranged from his teenage son, his ex-wife is unhappy, and his mother is losing her memory. However, on November 18th, as the fire approaches Paradise, Kevin is the only one who can answer a critical call from his dispatcher, Ashlie Atkinson: rescue stranded elementary school children and get them to safety.

Kevin, a dad struggling with newfound responsibility, teams up with a schoolteacher, Mary (America Ferrera), to help chaperone a school trip. While Mary is anxious to get home to her own child, she agrees to assist. Throughout the unfolding crisis, we see glimpses of the fire chief (Yul Vazquez) coordinating rescue attempts, and his scenes signal increasingly dire circumstances. As a rapidly spreading wildfire traps the bus, blocking escape routes, the trip becomes a frightening ordeal with ever-rising stakes. (Residents of Eaton and Palisades, be warned – this movie likely won’t appeal to you.)

Matthew McConaughey is perfectly cast, portraying a quietly strong, working-class man with a hint of vulnerability. Even in a shorter, more focused version, the film, with its solid performances from McConaughey and America Ferrera, and Paul Greengrass’s energetic editing, would still be gripping and emotionally powerful. The fire scenes, filmed with stunning realism by Pål Ulvik Rokseth, are particularly impressive, blending practical and digital effects seamlessly. However, the somewhat clumsy and unbelievable attempts to give Kevin a redemptive arc, shown through awkward looks and unnatural dialogue, disrupt the film’s intense atmosphere.

It’s strange the director, known for focusing on social issues, didn’t make the corporate villain – the utility company PG&E – more central to the story. They’re portrayed by a weak character who just receives a brief scolding. Instead of a redemption arc, the director could have amplified the action and even had the main character physically confront a representative of PG&E.

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2025-09-20 03:02