Cast: Matthew McConaughey, America Ferrera

Directed By: Paul Greengrass

Studio/Streamer: Apple Films

Release Year: 2025

Runtime: 129 minutes

Audio Description Produced By: Pixel Logic

Written By:

Narrated By: Yuki

What Is it?: Based on the wildfires that ripped through Paradise, CA, and one bus driver’s attempt to get a bus full of kids out safely.

What Doesn’t Work: Paul Greengrass thrives in these ripped from the headlines films, and also has a strong sense of mounting tension and holding it. I wish he had an ability to look at the Final Cut of his film and see what isn’t working, or better yet, catch it before it ever shoots. A lot of this film relies on McConaughey (who brought along his actual mom and son to play his mom and son in this) and Ferrera. Not because they are the only two name actors, but because the script is rather incompetent when it comes to character development, and that is all it can handle.

We learn quite a bit about McConaughey’s Kevin, from his home life, a recently deceased father, a pain in the ass ex-wife, and a son who stayed home sick. Kevin needs money, and is trying to appease the dispatcher at the bus depot by performing some routine maintenance finally on his bus. And Ferrera, who gets picked up a little into the film, has moments of exposition, so we know more about her, and her family.

But it is all so damn clunky. Stunted dialogue, and characters that are aggressively and purposefully not given a damn thing to do. Even the kids on the bus are like faceless soulless entities. I truly believe that they could have just kept changing kids on the bus throughout the film, and no one would have noticed. Only two kids ever get even a few seconds of featuring. one girl is hiding on the floor, and gets a moment with Ferrera, and another boy is worried about his parents and gets about five seconds with McConaughey. And, despite this being a bus full of kids whose parents were unreachable, somehow all those parents make it to the end to reunite with their kids. Really?

this is also about the bus, so developing the first responders is out of the question. Hell, it might be illegal to develop any other character in this film. As intense as some of these scenes are, because it is the bread and butter Greengrass thrives on, the characters and writing here are awful.

That’s not to say McConaughey and Ferrera don’t do a marvelous job turning shit into diamonds, because they do. their acting and reacting is so strong it’ll make you bamboozled into believing you know more about these people.Considering Apple has had a fairly weak year, and also did last year, I wanted this to come through for them. It’s clear that F1 is their biggest Oscar contender, as I can see that getting into Sound, Editing, and perhaps a third category if lucky. I can’t see The lost Bus getting anything this year.

The Audio description: I did enjoy the audio description from Pixel Logic, which also helps maintain the tension built in the film and push it forward. from the encroaching fire to the ominous smoke, danger is everywhere, and the description supports that. the narrator was also great, i just didn’t catch her full name. I wasn’t ready for the AD credits to be so early.

Why You Might Like It: it plays like a Greengrass film. His direction is still impeccable. If you liked films like United 93, Green Zone, or Captain Phillips, you might be a Greengrass junkie.

Why you Might Not Like it: If you enjoy character development, this is the antithesis of that.

Final Thoughts: Greengrass expertly ratchets tension in this epic true tale, but despite commendable performances from McConaughey and Ferrera, the film is let down by a screenplay void of meaningful supporting characters and organic development.

Rotten: 5.8/10