Year Released: 2-26
Directed by: David Ayer
Starring: : Brad Pitt, J.K. Simmons, Anna Lambe, and Uber
(PG 13, 101 min.)
Genre: Action and Adventurer

“This region here is the heart of the beast. Most folks learn the hard way.”Watkins (J.K Simmons)

Not to miss. A return to old fashioned storytelling, with a clean focus and wonderful characters, one of the best being Odin, the combat dog who stars with Brad Pitt.

After surviving a plane crash, a former special forces soldier finds himself trapped in the unforgiving Alaskan wilderness with his combat dog. Together, they battle the elements and other animals in a harsh landscape that would likely kill any other man or dog.

Don’t wait for streaming. This should be enjoyed on the big, big screen, not the pretty good facsimile in your house.

Another bonus was watching the mostly inferior film previews shown before Heart of the Beast. Overly complex, filled computer generated images, overworked plots and characters.

Heart of the Beast is simplicity itself, in the best sense of that word.

And Brad Pitt shows again that he is not just a handsome face like the one we might remember from a few years back, perhaps when he played Achilles in the film Troy.

Here his face is rough and weathered; he even has baggy eyes. And that is not just fine, but essential. Just as everything else in the film is pared down to the essential.

In fact, the two other human characters have very little screen time. J.K. Simmons’s part – he’s another wilderness enthusiast – is really just an extended cameo. I think he is there for a few reasons.

One is to give some background on Pitt’s James Belmont as the two talk around the campfire. And to show Pitt’s still intact combat wariness, as he is loath to put down his gun when the “friendly” stranger appears.

And maybe to utter a few poignant words of warning and hope to Pitt:

“This region here is the heart of the beast. Most folks learn the hard way.”

“It’s not who you live for…It’s who you’d die for.” Watkins (J.K. Simmons)

Ana Lambe bookends the film in her encounter with Odin, their first interaction in the opening so different from the one at the end, because we now have experienced what Pitt and Odin have. The film is so well done that the audience feels every trauma, every hope that lifts and then is dashed, the encounters with bears and wolves, and the stark beauty and danger enveloping them in their 58-mile trek to survive.

I don’t think I am saying too much when I call Odin Brad Pitts’ costar. His eyes and his body language speak more than any script could.

In fact, here is what the trainer who worked with him has said.

He had that face that just captivated an audience, so a lot of the things are emitting emotion from the dog, from the twist of the head, from the lick of the chops, all those close-ups, it's all Uber.

He’s a very special dog. Only 6 years old during filming, he had an old soul inside him, like he had lived a few past lives. Uber (his real name) was very gentle, very clam, very grounded. He just had Odin written all over him.

During the 5 months of filming, which was really in New Zealand, not Alaska, the crew was with him 24/7 and the bond between him and Pitt was very real.

So real that Pitt wanted to buy him afterward, but alas, Uber had to return to his Kiwi life as a stud. He has fathered 10 litters, inclluding Hondo, Sika and Riker, his gown pups who acted as his stunt doubles.

Pitt’s affinity for dogs is also revealed in Seven Years in Tibet, where he adopted several street dogs while filming it in Argentina.

If you loved Iron Will, where training and loyalty shine, or Eight Below, another tale of love, loyalty, and survival, you will love Heart of the Beast.

Or maybe you’re just ready to see a Hollywood heartthrob show he has so much more to offer now? Perhaps tired of prequels, sequels, re releases, or the mostly mediocre films out there now and want something real.

You get all that in spades with Heart of the Beast. Not to miss.

–Kathy Borich
🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁

Trailer

Film-Loving Foodie

Brad Pitt works very hard to improvise a fishing line and hook to catch some salmon after most of their food supply has been ravaged by animals. Yes, even though he was careful to bag it and put it up in a tree so as not to attract bears, tree hopping invaders had found it and pillaged. While he is busy telling Odin just how to fish, Odin jumps into the stream and catches a good sized salmon himself.

Later Pitt cooks it for them over a campfire. Our Campfire Salmon is a not quite as simple as Pitt’s, but you won’t mind that, will you?

Enjoy.

Campfire Salmon

Ingredients

· 1 1.5lb Sockeye Salmon Fillet

· 1 Tbsp. Olive Oil

· 2 tsp. Rub with Love Salmon Seasoning

Directions

1. If necessary, cut up firewood to fit within the fire ring or fire pit in use and begin a campfire with matches and/or lighter. Make sure to check current fire regulations in your area, and that you are using approved firewood in order to avoid transporting invasive species or tree diseases! With a history in Forestry, this is an important step to Captain Steve.

2. Prepare the thawed salmon fillet by drizzling the tablespoon of olive oil evenly across the fillet.

3. Sprinkle the 2 teaspoons of Rub with Love salmon seasoning evenly over the oiled fillet. Optional: Portion the fillet into the desired number of pieces for your campfire guests.

4. Transport the salmon to the campfire, with the red flesh side down first, and cook for 2 minutes. You can use the foil & parchment paper to create a barrier for the salmon to sit on safely (make sure the foil side is down, and parchment paper sits on top of that). Or, cook the salmon directly on the grate of the campfire for the classic blackened markings (here, the Kurians prefer to avoid using tinfoil due to its aluminum content and instead cook directly on the grate. This also helps to keep the skin side crunchy, for those who enjoy it as a snack like the Kurian kids do!).

5. Flip the salmon to the skin side and cook for another 7 minutes, or until cooked through. It is important to finish by cooking on the skin side for longer because the skin acts as a barrier, holding in the moisture and oils for a delicious final flavor. This would be a great time to throw any side dishes you’ve brought along onto the fire as well!

6. Serve up and enjoy!

Wild for Salmon.com

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