The Brink of War

The Brink of War is a must-see film for anyone interested in Cold War history.

The Brink of War is a well-meaning if overly academic approach to dramatizing this pivotal moment in Cold War history.

A serviceable history lesson whose hagiographic earnestness is offset by understated turns from its leads and a persuasive pro-democracy, anti-communism attitude.

At times, the movie sizzles. But much of it is sideshow, or filler.

The visual touches aren’t enough to prevent The Brink of War from feeling like an academic history lesson rather than living, breathing drama.

While the two actors make a meal out of the historic clash between the two leaders, Gunn’s lacking aptitude as a first-time feature director limits the drama that can be wrung out of two men — even these two men — bickering in a room with one another over the fate of humanity.

If you squint a little at the screen, you can just about see the first-rate Broadway play that could emerge from this material — with no casting changes required — if the telling were just a little more tense, and the writing just a little more witty.