explodingcrenelation:

theavengers:

Anthony Russo: Look at those character arms…
Joe Russo: We were focusing so hard on his character there.

‘Captain America: Civil War’ Audio Commentary

I just want to point out the irony here—that as gratuitous as this scene is, it actually is character development. You can tell from the way Steve’s straining that he’s at his breaking point. He’s a super soldier, but there are limits to his strength and he’s teetering on the edge. Despite that, we one hundred percent believe Steve is willing to let himself get ripped in half here rather than let that helicopter go. 

Why? When we all saw this scene in the first Civil War trailer, the Russos said Steve was fighting for a passionate reason. There’s only one person Steve would be fighting this hard for—Bucky. No one had any doubt. Seventy-some years ago, Steve failed to hold on to Bucky and it ruined them both. He’s not going to let him go again, and we see that internal struggle manifested here physically. 

The interesting thing is—as heroically as this shot is framed—we can see this as valor or sheer, stubborn idiocy. After all, Steve is fighting a helicopter for Bucky and “Bucky,” brainwashed, just threw Steve down an elevator shaft and tried to kill most of his friends. The Bucky Steve is hanging on to here may or may not be the Bucky he actually wants to save. But Steve is taking a chance, risking it all on the belief that his friend is in there somewhere and if he can just hang on long enough, then they’ll both get through this.

It may be incidental, but the glowing lens flare here draws particular attention to Steve’s chest—assuming you’re not too entranced with his arms—and emphasizes where the core of the matter lies. Steve is being pulled in two directions and his heart is at the center of the conflict. If he’s smart and wants to save himself, it’s as easy as letting go (one hand or the other). But he’s Steve and this is Bucky and, no, he’s not going to let go.