Just got out of Young Washington, and as an OG American — you can probably tell — this was absolutely unbelievable. If you’re French, maybe sit this one out. (It’s a French and Indian War movie. You’ll understand.)
Some context for the scoreboard: that’s five movies in about thirty days — Toy Story 5, Supergirl, Disclosure Day, Jackass, and now this. And this is the one that landed. This movie affected me.
Not the movie you’re assuming it is
A lot of people hear “George Washington origin story” and assume it’s a yay-rah-America flag-waver. It’s not. Not one bit.
“It’s a very small story that feels very big.”
That’s the trick Jon Erwin’s film pulls off. The stakes are enormous because you know exactly what this young officer eventually becomes — but the story stays intimate, told beautifully, with dialogue that is so, so good.
The aura is real
William Franklyn-Miller plays the young Washington, and I’d never seen him in anything before. Doesn’t matter. The guy has so much aura in this it’s honestly insane — a screen presence that makes you believe this specific person could grow into that George Washington.
The verdict
My theater was packed and there was a standing ovation — everyone stood and cheered at the credits. When’s the last time you saw that?
9 out of 10. Small story. Big movie.