‘Heart of the Beast’ movie review: A rugged Brad Pitt snuggles warmth in aching canine bromance

Grief is the great equaliser in Brad Pitt’s Heart of the Beast . Its presence is almost invisible, often sneaking in through the otherwise pristine eyes of the adorable German Shephard, Odin (Uber). As a highly trained, endlessly sensitive combat dog, there’s a reflection of great humanity in Odin, who suffers from the worst of nightmares from his intense wartime exploits and stays forever connected to his comrade, James Belmont ( Brad Pitt ), an ex-army man struggling with his own claim of PTSD from war. The two share these disturbing flashes and bear witness to each other’s vulnerabilities. The innumerable scars on their bodies carry the sign of immovable resolve with the amputee leg of Odin being a constant reminder of what was lost and what remains. The recurring trauma of war has silently deepened into grief.