| Product: |
K-19: The Widowmaker (DVD) |
| Date: |
17.06.03 (45 review reads) |
| Rating: |
 |
Advantages: Well Made, Good Acting, Entertaining
Disadvantages: Nothing New
Don't worry K-19 isn't another sequel in the cop/dog series of films with Jim Belushi. Instead this is a submarine movie starring Harrison Ford with a russian accent.
Now I have to admit I was a bit skeptical when I sat down to watch this as the reaction was mixed and the film dived to low depths at the box office. However what I got was an entertaining film where not much happens but still keeps you watching.
It's the early sixties and the USSR are sending out their first nuclear submarine in the depths of the North Atlantic. However it's underfunded, behind build schedule and just not seaworthy. The K-19's captain Mikhail Polenin (Liam Neeson) is none too happy and is soon replaced by a high ranking captain in the form of Alexei Vostrikov (Harrison Ford). A series of disasters beset the vessel before it's departure leading it to being dubbed The Widowmaker but this is of no matter to Vostrikov and they set sail. The young crew are pushed to their limits by their captain and it leads to unrest. It also doesn't help that the Nuclear reactor on board is now leaking and it's potential explosion could create World War III. Vostrikov is left to make tough decisions and work with a crew he is conflicted with.
There's something about submarine movies that always makes them fascinating. Maybe it's the tension that comes from being inside something where there is no real escape into open air. Perhaps it's because at any moment a disaster could lead to the death of everybody on board. Mainly it's because living in cloe quarters for weeks on end with no sight of daylight can drive people crazy and flare tempers.
K-19 is nothing new, it's story is apparantly a true one although it's probably not gripping enough to warrant a big screen adaptation. Still it's a film that's very well made and actually relies on it's characters rather than a barrage of special effects to draw in
it's audience. This is a film that sinks or swims on it's performances. Naturally the star of the show and for once he's actually a bit of a hard bastard and not endearing the the audience. This made me more interested in the film, he's equally matched by Neeson while the rest of the cast are made of unknown faces for the bit of reality. Of course there are some duff russian accents on show but mainly I forgot abotu it after the first 30 minutes.
I wouldn't say K-19 is a classic of it's genre. It's no Das Boot and doesn't have the tension and action of say U-571 but it's still a good film and one that's worth a look.
Summary:
|
|
