by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
In 2018, Paradise, California was the epicenter of a horrific and destructive wildfire that killed 85 people and left desolation in its wake. It was a tragedy that reflects so many horrible aspects of humanity. Arrogance. Ignorance. Irrationality. Many decisions were made which caused this tragedy. Corruption and greed certainly played a huge part of it, as well as the idea that we are free of the power of nature. Now, co-writer and director Paul Greengrass brings this story to a bigger stage with The Lost Bus.
The film renders the flames and the power of such a storm in a fascinating yet terrifying way. Any time Greengrass drops the audience into the heart of the fire, the tension roars onto the screen. The camera work is dynamic as it whips through the engulfed areas with energy and zeal. Greengrass is such a talented craftsman, and you can always expect to appreciate the technical aspects of his films. There is a docudrama feel to The Lost Bus’ presentation, and it has its positives and negatives. When the emotion heightens, you feel just how genuine and authentic it is. But when there is exposition to dump, or drier subjects to discuss, the film feels a little too mundane. The pacing can be inconsistent, making the two-plus hour runtime feel a little long.
The Lost Bus does attempt to navigate the greater context of the wildlife in its longer runtime. Unfortunately, these elements are some of the least engaging in the film. When the audience is left in space with the firefighters and town officials, things get a bit too dry and too blunt. The screenplay has no finesse when confronting the folly that led to this tragedy. This is obviously important for the story, but it could have been written in a more dramatic and engaging way.
But the real core of the film is a bus driver and teacher who saves the lives of 22 elementary school children. Matthew McConaughey’s Kevin McKay is set up well as a struggling divorcee trying to do right by his elderly mother and his estranged son. Struggling to make ends meet, McKay puts his life on the line in this harrowing journey. Greengrass and his co-writer Brad Ingelsby flesh out McKay enough, injecting a nice helping of empathy. This makes our protagonist more empathetic and someone we want to see makes it out of this. America Ferrera’s Mary Ludwig is layered in many of the same ways, and through some key quieter moments inside the bus. The children both act and sound like actual kids, but the film is at its strongest while focusing on McKay and Ludwig.
When you have a film shot and presented in a docudrama fashion, you will need some strong actors to build a deeper connection with the audience. McConaughey and Ferrera achieve this well. McConaughey is an effortlessly charismatic performer, and his presence just makes McKay more engaging. The character feels so real thanks to the heart and soul that McConaughey injects. There are a few key moments where McConaughey gets to lay it all out there, and he certainly strikes the right chord. Ferrera is authentic and endearing in portraying a sweet schoolteacher. She makes the most of the film’s quieter moments to make herself more empathetic. This strong duo of McConaughey and Ferrera really tie this whole film together. Even the young performers give the children an organic feel.
The Lost Bus turns out to be an effective, well-shot, and engaging survival film that captures a bit of the spark from plenty of classic disaster movies. When it focuses on the humanist story of McKay and Ludwig, it really stands out.
Rating: Liked It
The Lost Bus is currently playing in theaters
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