'Speed Meets Inferno': Paul Greengrass's Gripping Real-Life Wildfire Saga Showcased at Toronto Film Festival - Film Review of 'The Lost Bus'
In the sleepy town of Paradise, California, Kevin McCay, played by Matthew McConaughey, returns from Reno following the death of his father. A former bus driver, Kevin agrees to pick up 23 children stranded at Ponderosa Elementary School, along with their teacher Mary Ludwig, portrayed by America Ferrera, when shifts are scarce due to the impending fire.
The film, titled "The Lost Bus," directed by Paul Greengrass and co-written by Greengrass and Brad Ingelsby, depicts the beginnings of the Camp Fire in a disaster movie style, complete with ominous music and scenes of a small fire that quickly grows out of control. The effect of the two locations is jarring, giving the impression of night and day happening simultaneously, as the peaceful town of Paradise transforms into the fiery hellscape of Dante's Inferno.
As the fire closes in, the bus's communication and tracking system are knocked out, leaving Kevin and Mary to rely on their intuition and common sense. The film's VFX team has rendered the wildfire scenes with stunning ease, making them look like a news bulletin from the apocalypse.
The story unfolds as an exploration of ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances. Director Paul Greengrass was drawn to Brad Ingelsby's human script, which portrays a strained relationship between Kevin and his son Shaun, and Shaun's hostile words towards Kevin still linger in his mind when the disaster strikes.
America Ferrera provides a calm, reassuring presence alongside McConaughey, adding a sense of peril to the film. Ashlie Atkinson's character, bus controller Ruby, grapples with guilt throughout the film. The film's professional firefighters map out the path of the fire and argue about its threat, adding to the tension.
McConaughey's character switches from a laid-back demeanor to action mode as the situation becomes dire, and the film takes on a feverish, Speed-like quality. The wildfire depicted in the film is so dangerous that the first men to try to douse the flames soon realize they're fighting a losing battle.
"The Lost Bus" is arguably Greengrass's first horror movie, with its intense scenes and high-stakes drama. The film runs for 2 hours and 9 minutes and will be distributed by Apple TV+. Paul Greengrass and Blumhouse are collaborating on this film, which is Greengrass's first film since "News of the World" in 2020. The film was produced in the USA and is associated with Apple TV+.
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