When it comes to films that are adaptations of real-life events, I am always curious about accuracy. Some of my questions include: What happened? Who was involved? What are the theories? Who has the power? The concept of “power” is explored in The Brink of War. Written and directed by Michael Russell Gunn, there are political motives that felt real mixed with moments that tended to drag. Overall, Jeff Daniels does a stellar job in the role of Ronald Reagan, and Jared Harris does well in his role as Mikhail Gorbachev.

The film is set in Iceland. All eyes are on Reagan and Gorbachev and every word counts as they navigate uncharted territory in The Brink of War. Based on actual events, Reagan and Gorbachev find themselves dealing with nuclear arsenals and other charged political topics. At the same time, they have their own people to worry about. The secretary of State is George Shultz, played by J.K. Simmons. Shultz tries to help Reagan stay above water because the wrong moves prove detrimental to people around the world. 

Hope Davis plays Nancy Reagan who always worries about her husband’s choices. The film keeps audiences wondering what the characters are thinking. The film has several scenes where Reagan and Gorbachev are in their own heads especially during times of peace. Their choices have an impact and the execution is often mind-boggling. The film is not especially amazing, but at the same time, the political value of this time in history is noteworthy.

The serious impact of nuclear weapons on the world caused me to reflect on how these conflicts were handled. Why was Gorbachev so hard to work with? What were Reagan’s motives? What do they have to defend themselves with?  The subject of defense becomes somewhat of a blur during certain moments in The Brink of War. The performances of Daniels and Harris are like a boxing match—one where the rounds are repeated until common ground is found, or until someone is defeated.

I found myself sold on the movie in some parts due to the setting in Iceland which made the suspense of the true story feel realistic. Critical decisions had to be made making time being of the essence is a vital theme in The Brink of War. The storytelling one-of-a-kind continuity that matters in this film.  This is an adaptation where my expectations were low and  it didn’t quite exceed them. I find that The Brink of War deserves a rating of two and a half out of four stars.