‘Every year the fires get bigger, and there’s more of them…’
The Lost Bus is the kind of film that would have made bank at the box office twenty years ago. An inspirational true story. A genuine A-lister in Matthew McConaughey. A successful and much lauded director in Paul Greengrass. And yet, as it was dumped out on streaming via Apple TV, it already feels like its time has been and gone. Which is a shame, because it is genuinely excellent…
When the town of Paradise, California is engulfed in a blazing inferno, Kevin McKay (McConaughey) reluctantly agrees to charter a school bus and drive 22 kids away from the fire to safety, alongside school teacher Mary Ludwig (America Ferrara). Meanwhile, Martinez (Yul Vazquez), the local fire chief, attempts to find a balance between fighting the fire and saving lives.
Living in the UK means I never have to worry about wild fires. The 2018 Camp Fire was one of the worst in American history, and Greengrass brings it to life here in a way that is scorching and visceral. It’s hard to imagine what it would actually be like to be embroiled in a wild fire, but having watched much of this film from behind my fingers, I feel like now I do know. And it’s terrifying. Roland Emmerich has spent his career trying to make a disaster film as good as this one, and it’s safe to say he’s never managed it.
Greengrass’ assured direction, combined with a bravura performance from McConaughey, ensures that The Lost Bus treats the subject material with the reverence that it deserves. The subtle references to climate change being the cause of all these terrible weather events feel timely and prescient rather than preachy and condescending, and this results in a film that had me on the edge of my seat throughout despite taking place almost entirely on a school bus (having said that, Speed has already proven that such a task is very much achievable).
The Last Bus is one of those films that has something for everyone. I can’t imagine anyone not enjoying it. A true crowd pleaser.
