‘The Brink of War’ takes viewers back to the Cold War

Category: Movies

At the height of the Cold War, Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev met to discuss warming the relations between the United States and the Soviet Union. These tense talks took place in Iceland. The Brink of War is about these negotiations and how the outcome led to the eventual end of the Soviet Union.

Jeff Daniels is Ronald Reagan and plays him with sincerity to keep the world from destroying itself. Jared Harris is Mikhail Gorbachev who is focused on stopping Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative, aka SDI, aka Star Wars. And J.K. Simmons is George Shultz, the Secretary of State and closest advisor to President Reagan.

As viewers watch the psychological effects the talks have on the two leaders, they will hopefully understand how close the world came to destruction. 

The reduction of nuclear weapons was at the top of the agenda. Then President Reagan submitted the idea of complete nuclear disarmament. How would it be if every nuclear weapon was dismantled and there was no more threat of nuclear war? What an amazing idea and something the leaders worked toward. But the SDI was the sticking point for Gorbachev.

Also, how would these two leaders convince their mutual allies to give up their nuclear capabilities and, for that matter, how would they feel if their allies – America and Russia – were no longer able to protect them with their nuclear weapons. It was a brilliant idea, but how could it be implemented?

While all this plays out on the screen, the humanity of the two leaders comes into play. They were, after all, more than just the heads of the two most powerful nations in the world. They were men who had the fate of the planet in their hands.

In the end, compromises were made, understandings were forged, and even respect between the two leaders helped to ultimately warm the relations and end the threat of the Cold War that had hung over the world for decades.

The movie was filmed in the actual location where the talks took place. That dreary landscape and colorless surroundings add to the intensity of what the film portrays.

The movie is dedicated to George Shultz.

The Brink of War is rated PG for language, thematic elements, and smoking. From Angel Studios, it opened in theaters August 14, 2026.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 30 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She is a long-standing member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA.