Burning Blue (film)

Burning Blue is a 2013 American United States Naval aviation drama film, directed by D.M.W. Greer and starring Trent Ford and Rob Mayes. The film is based on the 1992 play of the same name by Greer about a U.S. Navy accident investigation which becomes a gay witch hunt during the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" era.

Plot
Best friends Lieutenants Dan Lynch (Trent Ford) and Will Stephensen (Morgan Spector) are U.S. Navy fighter pilots flying the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C/D Hornet fighter aircraft. Both pilots have an aspiration to become the youngest pilots accepted into the space program. After two accidents, one of which is due to Will's failing eyesight, their unit is subject to a NCIS investigation led by John Cokely (Michael Sirow).

At the same time, a third pilot, Matt Blackwood (Rob Mayes), arrives on the carrier and quickly develops a close friendship with Dan, driving a wedge between Dan and Will. Cokely's investigation leads to him uncovering rumours about Dan and Matt's relationship just as they both begin to fall in love. When Matt decides to leave his wife and move in with Dan, there is a third accident, and Cokely's investigation ramps up the pressure on Dan.

Cast

 * Trent Ford as Lieutenant Dan Lynch
 * Morgan Spector as Lieutenant William Stephensen
 * Rob Mayes as Lieutenant Matthew Blackwood
 * William Lee Scott as Charlie Trumbo
 * Michael Sirow as John Cokely
 * Cotter Smith as Admiral Lynch
 * Tammy Blanchard as Susan
 * Tracy Weiler as Nancy
 * Gwynneth Bensen as Tammi
 * Mark Doherty as Skipper
 * Chris Chalk as Special Agent Jones
 * Jordan Dean as Stewie Kelleher
 * Johnny Hopkins as Gorden
 * Haviland Morris as Grace Lynch
 * Karolina Muller as Olenka
 * Michael Cumpsty as Admiral Stephensen

Production
Burning Blue was based on the 1992 play by D.M.W. Greer, his first play. The film adaptation began production in 2010, with principal photography taking place primarily in New York City and Long Island, New York. Some of the aerial and naval scenes used the USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) aircraft carrier identified as the fictitious CVN-44. The scenes on the deck of the USS John C. Stennis showed current operational United States Navy aircraft and equipment including:


 * Boeing E-3B Sentry
 * Grumman F-14 Tomcat
 * Lockheed S-3B Viking
 * McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C/D Hornet
 * Northrop Grumman EA-6B Prowler
 * Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King
 * Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk

The scene at Naval Air Station Oceana was actually photographed at CFB Cold Lake, Alberta, Canada. Canadian CF-18 Hornet fighter aircraft represented U.S. Navy aircraft.

Reception
Burning Blue has received generally negative critical reviews. On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 25% based on twelve reviews, with an average rating of 4.38/10. On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 29 out of 100, based on seven critics, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews".

Reviewer Anita Gates noted in The New York Times: "The script, by Mr. Greer and Helene Kvale, rolls along with lifeless, profoundly unimaginative dialogue ('The wings on your chest are proof that you’ve accomplished something great'; 'I like women'; 'I'm not gay'; 'Tears won't bring him back'; 'No more lies'). Then there’s a scene in church, and the priest inexplicably begins quoting Rainer Maria Rilke's gorgeous 'Go to the Limits of Your Longing'." The writing and directing were criticized, but Ford and Mayes were praised for their portrayals.