Spielberg and Hanks take to the World War II skies in 'Masters of the Air'

Transcript

DAVID BIANCULLI, HOST:

This is FRESH AIR. I'm TV critic David Bianculli. In the '90s, Steven Spielberg directed two unforgettably powerful films about World War II, "Schindler's List" in 1993 and "Saving Private Ryan" in 1998. "Saving Private Ryan" starred Tom Hanks, and Hanks and Spielberg weren't through with their obsession with World War II dramas. They were just beginning. Teaming with Gary Goetzman, they produced two impressive, captivating HBO miniseries about World War II - "Band Of Brothers" in 2001, followed nine years later by "The Pacific." Both of them did what "Saving Private Ryan" also had accomplished so brilliantly. They allowed the audience to experience the intensity and brutality of wartime - not just allowed us but forced us in unrelenting battle sequences that gave new meaning to the phrase, you are there. And those dramas also delivered large helpings of surprise and of loss. We got to know and care deeply about its soldiers and Marines, and then, without warning, many of them were taken away from us.

"Masters Of The Air" is the newest entry in this World War II project by Spielberg, Hanks and company. It's every bit their equal and boasts precisely the same strengths. It's presented by Apple TV+ this time, rolled out weekly after tonight's two episode premiere. And because "Masters Of The Air," like "Band Of Brothers" and "The Pacific," is a limited miniseries, even the main characters are at risk of dying at any time, and some do. Two of the primary characters share a similar nickname, a confusing gimmick that's explained early on. There's Gale "Buck" Cleven, played by Austin Butler, and John "Bucky" Egan, played by Callum Turner. Bucky had the nickname first and gave the shorter name, Buck, to his friend just to annoy him until it stuck. Bucky is a loudmouth hothead. Buck is more quiet and private. But they're good friends, and they're both great pilots. In this early scene, they're in a club, drinking and listening to the jukebox, about to be shipped off to fight overseas. Bucky has orders to go first and has some news for Buck.

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AUSTIN BUTLER: (As Gale "Buck" Cleven) So this is it.

CALLUM TURNER: (As John "Bucky" Egan) This is it.

BUTLER: (As Gale "Buck" Cleven) See you in a few weeks.

TURNER: (As John "Bucky" Egan) If I don't die first.

BUTLER: (As Gale "Buck" Cleven) I hate to break it to you, Bucky, but you are the hundredths air executive now. I'm not going over there to fly missions.

TURNER: (As John "Bucky" Egan) Look. I had a conversation with the CO over at the 389th, and I'm fine with those boys until you guys show up. I'll be an observation pilot.

BUTLER: (As Gale "Buck" Cleven) You son of a bitch.

TURNER: (As John "Bucky" Egan) Yeah, well, someone's gotta taste a little combat. I'll tell you what it's really like up there.

BUTLER: (As Gale "Buck" Cleven) Don't you die on me before I get over there.

TURNER: (As John "Bucky" Egan) Don't count on it.

BIANCULLI: When Buck finally gets to Europe and flies his first mission, it's more manic and terrifying than he ever imagined. When he pilots his bomber back to the base, Buck finds Bucky waiting for him. It's an unexpected reunion and not necessarily a happy one because Buck has some questions.

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BUTLER: (As Gale "Buck" Cleven) Why didn't you tell me?

TURNER: (As John "Bucky" Egan) What?

BUTLER: (As Gale "Buck" Cleven) You've been up two missions. You didn't tell me it was like that.

TURNER: (As John "Bucky" Egan) I don't know what to say. You've seen it now.

BUTLER: (As Gale "Buck" Cleven) I don't know what I saw.

BIANCULLI: Austin Butler empowers Buck with the undeniable charisma of an old-fashioned movie star, like a bomber pilot James Dean. Butler's breakout starring role was as Elvis Presley in "Elvis." And here, even without the trappings of showbiz flash and glitz, he's just as magnetic. But he's not carrying this story or fighting this war alone. Callum Turner's Bucky matches him throughout, and so does Anthony Boyle, who plays a young navigator named Harry Crosby. And a lot more players contribute greatly. This is a large cast doing justice to a very big story.

"Masters Of The Air" is based on the book by Donald L. Miller. Several talented directors traded off working on various episodes, but all were adapted for TV by screenwriter John Orloff. His narrative not only follows the leading characters during World War II but makes time over its nine episodes to weave in such familiar wartime narratives as the Tuskegee Airmen and the Great Escape. Lots of time is spent airborne in one thrilling mission after another, but there also are scenes set in briefing rooms, barracks, rest and recreation spots, even German prisoner of war camps. "Masters Of The Air" finds drama in all those places. And it's nice to know that this miniseries, like its predecessors, is being rolled out in weekly installments. These hours of television are like the Air Force missions themselves. They're such intense experiences, it's nice to have a little time between them to reflect and to breathe.

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BIANCULLI: On Monday, show journalist and author Antonia Hilton. She's written a new book called "Madness: Race And Insanity In A Jim Crow Asylum." It's the culmination of over a decade of investigative and archival research. It pieces together the 93-year history of Maryland's first segregated asylum, which she says gives us context about the state of mental health care today. FRESH AIR's executive producer is Danny Miller. Our technical director and engineer is Audrey Bentham, with additional engineering support by Joyce Lieberman, Julian Herzfeld and Charlie Kaier. For Terry Gross and Tonya Mosley, I'm David Bianculli.

(SOUNDBITE OF BLAKE NEELY'S "SOAR (MAIN TITLE THEME FROM 'MASTERS OF THE AIR')") Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.