The Lost Bus is a new film from Apple now playing in limited theaters before it streams on Apple TV+ October 3rd. Directed by Paul Greengrass and written by Brad Inglesby & Greengrass, the film stars Matthew McConaughey, America Ferrera, Yul Vasquez, and Ashlie Atkinson. Inspired by real events, a school bus driver and a dedicated school teacher battle to save 22 children from one of America’s deadliest wildfires.

I’ve been a big fan of director Paul Greengrass’ work since the first two Bourne sequels. Since then, the filmmaker has consistently made films geared towards real-life moments, for the most part. His approach has often contributed to shaky handheld camera movements to better immerse you into the film. When I look at Greengrass’ overall filmography, this is definitely amongst his best.

Getting to see this before it releases on Apple TV+ was already exciting enough, but it was even more exciting to see the two leads in the film. It feels like it’s been forever since seeing Matthew McConaughey in a film, and America Ferrera is one of my favorite actresses. McConaughey gives a heartfelt & emotional performance. It’s even more impressive how he’s able to put himself right back into that state of mind after taking quite the hiatus from acting. America Ferrera is equally as great as she is able to hold her own. Together, the two leads are able to evoke the heartfelt emotion that I can only imagine that was felt during this real life moment.

It’s honestly too bad I didn’t get to see this in theaters. Funny how that tends to be the case for movies made for streaming that barely have a theatrical release. I could imagine myself glued in and on the edge of my seat. Paul Greengrass does a great job at showing the overall situation with different characters that will eventually impact the main characters. It’s a great way to immerse you more into the realism.

Aside from realism, Greengrass is also known for shaky camera movements – a technique I don’t typically like. It honestly took me a while to get used to it as it felt some shaky scenes weren’t necessary. Once the situation occurred, I strongly believed it worked for the better. Greengrass always does a great job at making his films feel like documentaries – this one included. I was surprised to see how much CGI was used. I get it. I’m not asking for the talent to put themselves in harm’s way, but there are some CGI shots that still look animated, which is probably where the immersion started to break for me..

The way the story pans out is exciting. Honestly, I don’t think any other movie has achieved so much characterization like this one did within the first ten minutes. It’s heartbreaking, and a great way to make you care for the main character. This only helps you care more about the situation at hand. It’s an interesting story for Greengrass to tackle, because it could not have been as impactful. With an extraordinary performance from McConaughey and some excellent characterization, it’s easy to care for the challenge this real life person endured. It makes you think no matter how complicated your life could be, you will always have a purpose.

The film does have its flaws, but it’s strengths heavily outweigh the negatives, which may leave me liking it more than others might feel. As much as we care about this character, I don’t think I have seen so many script inconsistencies that left me with more questions. Maybe I’m looking too much into it, but when those inconsistencies are clear as day, much like the CGI, it can break that immersion that you’re seeing something real.

The story can be predictable. I don’t think they would have made this into a movie if the film’s events went in another direction. That’s not why you watch movies like this. You watch movies like this to feel inspired and feel like we can still be a community. There’s a strong thematic core at the heart of this that helps keep the film engaging.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed The Lost Bus. It’s another great addition to Greengrass’ filmography. McConaughey & Ferrera are both excellent. While the script and visuals may have its flaws, it never hurts the film. This is going to be one that I will revisit before the end of the year.

VERDICT: 4/5 (Great)