‘Pressure’ Review: Brendan Fraser stars as Eisenhower in gripping WWII drama

There are hundreds, even thousands, of movies about World War II. You’d think that everything there was to know about this subject had already been featured on the big screen by now. But not that fast!

“Pressure” revisits the tumultuous planning of D-Day, particularly the attempt to follow the weather for the invasion of Normandy. With the glowing support of Winston Churchill, British meteorologist Captain James Stagg (Andrew Scott) is hired to advise General Dwight D. Eisenhower (Brendan Fraser).

“I need an estimate,” Eisenhower tells Stagg.

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Stagg, a tough guy who doesn’t work well with others, is forced to team up with Irving Krick (Chris Messina), a meteorologist Eisenhower handpicked from the states. Within 72 hours, they must tell Eisenhower whether he should proceed or postpone the attack on Normandy; but while Stagg is predicting two major storms, Krick is predicting beautiful sunny weather based on their own methodology.

“The storms I’m talking about are real, and so is nature’s wrath,” Stagg warns.

Eisenhower tasks the two with agreeing on a single estimate, which seems like a Herculean effort in itself.

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Director Anthony Maras’ Focus Features film “Pressure” stars Andrew Scott as Captain James Stagg and Chris Messina as Irving P. Krick. (Alex Bailey/Focus Properties/StudioCanal © 2026 All Rights Reserved.)

Rounding out the cast is the lovely Kerry Condon, who plays Captain Kay Summersby, Eisenhower’s Irish secretary and confidant who is also the “Ike whisperer” for Stagg; Damian Lewis also stars as British Army officer Bernard ‘Monty’ Montgomery, who is eager to dispatch soldiers come rain or shine.

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Director Anthony Maras’ Focus Features film “Pressure” stars Andrew Scott as Captain James Stagg and Kerry Condon as Captain Kay Summersby. (Alex Bailey/Focus Properties/StudioCanal © 2026 All Rights Reserved.)

Andrew Scott once again gives a strong performance as Stagg, who is extremely stern yet has a gentle charm. Brendan Fraser leads the screen as the towering and intimidating Eisenhower; one moment it displays flashes of classic American humor, the next it haunts the disastrous Exercise Tiger, the D-Day dress rehearsal that resulted in the deaths of more than 700 American soldiers in just a few weeks. He feels the weight of the world on his shoulders as he decides whether he has the confidence to give the order without causing another disaster.

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Adapted from David Haig’s 2014 play, “Pressure” is writer/director Anthony Maras’ second feature film, following “Hotel Mumbai,” a harrowing 2018 thriller about the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks. Maras certainly knows how to capture the intensity, and what’s commendable is how easy it is to grasp the complex nature of the story and not get bogged down as a viewer (I’m a very simple guy). This is credited to Maras and Haig’s effective script.

Brendan Fraser stars as General Dwight D. Eisenhower in director Anthony Maras’ Focus Features film “Pressure.” (Alex Bailey/Focus Properties/StudioCanal © 2026 All Rights Reserved.)

Decision

“Pressure” is a gripping war thriller that revisits one of the greatest moments of all time, performed by a strong ensemble led by Scott and Fraser. You don’t have to be a history buff to appreciate this film, which arrives just before the 82nd anniversary of D-Day.

“Oppression” is rated PG-13 for combat violence, bloody images, some strong language and smoking. Working time: 1 hour 40 minutes. In theaters now.

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