Category: Pressure

Pressure Review: Damian Lewis Brings Thunder and Lightning to Montgomery

I had the opportunity to watch Pressure at an early screening in New York followed by a Q&A with Andrew Scott and Brendan Fraser. And now that I have properly gathered my thoughts (and notes!) from the evening, here is my full review. You can also get the scoop and see photos from the New York premiere here.

Pressure tells the story of a real-life man many of us probably had never even heard of before this film.

Ask people to name famous World War II figures and they will probably say Eisenhower. Montgomery. Patton. MacArthur.

But James Stagg?

A Scottish meteorologist helping decide whether D-Day should go ahead?

Probably not.

Continue reading “Pressure Review: Damian Lewis Brings Thunder and Lightning to Montgomery”

Bernard Law Montgomery: The Man Damian Lewis Brings to Life in ‘Pressure’

Bernard Law Montgomery — universally known as “Monty” — remains one of the most recognizable and controversial British commanders of the Second World War. Admired by some, resented by others, Montgomery was a general who inspired fierce loyalty from his troops while often straining relationships with his fellow commanders.

In Pressure, Damian Lewis takes on the role of Montgomery during one of the most consequential moments of the war: the days leading up to D-Day. It is a fascinating piece of casting, not least because Damian is no stranger to WWII history — having portrayed Major Richard Winters in Band of Brothers, one of the most enduring depictions of the Normandy landings ever put on screen.

This time, however, he is no longer the officer executing orders on the ground. He is one of the men shaping them. Continue reading “Bernard Law Montgomery: The Man Damian Lewis Brings to Life in ‘Pressure’”

Unpacking The “Pressure” Trailer: 72 Hours, Two Storms, One Impossible Decision

The official trailer for Damian Lewis’ upcoming WWII movie Pressure dropped last week. Of course I watched it the moment it was released. And then I watched it again. And again. And again. After that, I sat down to unpack it — to look at the details, the emotions, the tension — and to think about what we can expect from the film. I honestly love doing this. Watching closely, noticing small things, trying to understand what the story is really about — it’s one of my favorite parts of running this blog.

So let’s get in the mood by unpacking this trailer and diving into its details. Imagine the maps on the walls. A storm building outside. Seventy-two hours on the clock.

Here is the official trailer… and let’s go.

Because there is so much to talk about. Continue reading “Unpacking The “Pressure” Trailer: 72 Hours, Two Storms, One Impossible Decision”

On the Horizon: Damian Lewis as Montgomery in WWII Movie “Pressure” *UPDATED*

Band of Brothers opens at Upottery Airfield on June 4, 1944, as the Easy Company paratroopers make their final preparations for their highly-awaited Normandy jump. The men of Easy Company are clearly disappointed when the commanding officer, 1st Lieutenant Thomas Meehan III, shows up to announce that the jump has been delayed due to bad weather.

Easy Company, listen up! Gather up around me. Move it up, come on, gentlemen, let’s go! Now, the Channel coast is socked in with rain and fog, high winds on the drop zone. No jump tonight. The invasion has been postponed. We’re on a 24 hour stand down.

As the men grumble about the delay, we meet 1st Lieutenant Richard Winters and 2nd Lieutenant Lewis Nixon. The two men talk about their time together as they expect further announcements. Towards the end of the first episode, there is an exchange about the weather between the two. Continue reading “On the Horizon: Damian Lewis as Montgomery in WWII Movie “Pressure” *UPDATED*”

War and Weather: A First Look at Damian Lewis’ New WWII Movie “Pressure”

Band of Brothers opens at Upottery Airfield on June 4, 1944, as the Easy Company paratroopers make their final preparations for their highly-awaited Normandy jump. The men of Easy Company are clearly disappointed when the commanding officer, 1st Lieutenant Thomas Meehan III, shows up to announce that the jump has been delayed due to bad weather.

Easy Company, listen up! Gather up around me. Move it up, come on, gentlemen, let’s go! Now, the Channel coast is socked in with rain and fog, high winds on the drop zone. No jump tonight. The invasion has been postponed. We’re on a 24 hour stand down.

As the men grumble about the delay, we meet 1st Lieutenant Richard Winters and 2nd Lieutenant Lewis Nixon. The two men talk about their time together as they expect further announcements. Towards the end of the first episode, there is an exchange about the weather between the two. Continue reading “War and Weather: A First Look at Damian Lewis’ New WWII Movie “Pressure””