‘Pressure’ dramatizes World War II’s decisive turn, a clash between generals and weathermen

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“Pressure” is a new World War II film directed by Anthony Maras and written by David Haig. It takes a close look at the days before D-Day, particularly the crucial role of weather forecasting. The film is a tense, single-location thriller set in the high-stakes environment of General Eisenhower’s war room in England. The story cleverly unfolds from a famous comment Eisenhower made in 1961 to President Kennedy, where he jokingly credited the Allied success in Normandy to having superior weather experts compared to the Germans.

If you’re wondering if a movie about D-day weather could be interesting, “Pressure” directly addresses that question. The film sets out to prove just how vital the meteorologists were to the success of D-day, starting with a look at the failed practice run, Exercise Tiger. Over the next hour and 40 minutes, the story, co-written by the creators of the original 2014 play, details their crucial role.

Today, we easily check the weather on our phones, but forecasting in the 1940s, particularly in Northern Europe, was incredibly challenging. This was the situation facing General Eisenhower (played by Brendan Fraser) just three days before the planned D-Day invasion on June 5, 1944. The film builds suspense by knowing D-Day actually occurred on June 6th, and revealing how that date was reached.

Okay, so the movie opens with this really haunting image – a flashback to Exercise Tiger, and it’s brutal, you see red in the water, mixing with the ocean… really sets a tone. Then, bam, we meet our main guy, James Stagg, played by Andrew Scott. He’s a meteorologist, and we see him at home, all domestic with his pregnant wife, before everything gets flipped upside down and he’s pulled into the thick of war planning. It’s a quick contrast, but it immediately tells you this isn’t just a war movie, it’s about a guy whose life is about to change drastically.

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Stagg is a strict, blunt, and practical man who prioritizes accuracy over popularity. He meticulously gathers real-time weather data using methods like weather balloons and phone reports, combined with detailed charts. His opposite is Col. Irving Krick, a charismatic American meteorologist favored by Eisenhower. Krick is more of a ‘yes man,’ preferring to use past data and relying on his persuasive speaking skills – an approach that irritates the precise Stagg. When Eisenhower orders them to collaborate, the film ‘Pressure’ follows the challenges and shifts in their relationship over several days.

The film essentially becomes a duel between Paul Scott’s portrayal of General Stagg and Brendan Fraser’s depiction of Eisenhower. Stagg believes the weather on June 5th will be unfavorable, while Eisenhower struggles with the uncertainty, all while trying to manage a large group of military staff. Everything is prepared – the troops are ready, the destroyers are positioned, and the moon is full – but maintaining the secrecy of the invasion is crucial. Fraser delivers a powerful performance, emphasizing just how much is riding on this incredibly risky mission.

Director and editor Anthony Maras, known for the gripping true-story thriller “Hotel Mumbai,” delivers another intense film with “Pressure.” The movie is expertly crafted, building momentum with a relentless pace and a compelling score by Volker Bertelmann. Cinematographer Jamie Ramsay beautifully captures this world, drawing viewers in immediately. Notably, Maras and Ramsay opted for a rich, colorful visual style, a striking choice that sets it apart from the often bleak look of period films. This creates an unsettling contrast between the film’s stunning visuals and the horrific events it depicts.

Brendan Fraser plays the American general with a bold, outward energy, while Andrew Scott portrays the more reserved and controlled Stagg. However, Scott truly shines when Stagg finally unleashes a powerful speech questioning Krick’s predictions, capturing Eisenhower’s attention. Scott, known for his roles in films like “All of Us Strangers” and “Blue Moon,” excels at subtly conveying deep emotions – he keeps most of it internal, but lets just enough slip through to draw the audience into his character’s inner world, making it incredibly captivating to watch.

During a relaxed chat, Kay Summersby, a close friend and assistant to Eisenhower, playfully complains that weather forecasters are dull. James Stagg gently points out that the weather itself is anything but. He explains that weather sustains us, but also has the power to devastate, essentially controlling our lives. He notes people are always concerned with when the wind will stop, but never wonder why it blows or what the wind actually is – revealing a surprisingly poetic side. His accurate weather prediction proved vital to the success of D-Day, and the unpredictability of the weather feels especially important today, given our changing climate.

Boring? Never. Thrilling and history-making? Indeed.

Katie Walsh is a Tribune News Service film critic.

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2026-05-30 00:01