The Perfect Storm (B+ or 3/4 stars)
'The Perfect Storm' (directed by Wolfgang Petersen, Das Boot, Neverending Story, In the Line of Fire, Outbreak, Air Force One) is one of the most terrifying movies you'll see all year. No, there isn't a serial killer on the loose. No, there isn't a plague killing people left & right. The villain here ... is the sea. Based on a true story, the film takes place in October 1991, when a confluence of weather conditions combined from a hurricane & a cold front to create the perfect storm. And a 6-man crew of the swordfish vessel 'Andrea Gail' take center stage of the story. The 6?
Capt. Billy Tyne (George Clooney), Bobby (Mark Wahlberg), a man in love; Dale (John C. Reilly), a devoted dad recently divorced; Sully (William Fichtner), a man with some demons; Bugsy (John Hawkes), who's finally met a woman who likes him; & Alfred (Allen Payne). After returning to shore with a less-than-impressive haul that earns him less than $6,000, the competitive Billy decides to take the 'Andrea Gail' out one last time for the season; intending to venture past the Grand Banks, all the way to the dangerous Flemish Cap, which most fishing boats simply don't travel to. The 5 members of his crew are hesitant (in fact, one says 'no go' - allowing Sully to step in), but agree to come because they know that need the $$. Bobby, urged by his girlfriend, Christina (Diane Lane), to stay behind with her, almost misses the boat when it sets sail - telling Billy that he loves his girl more than the sea.
The trip to the Flemish Cap goes well enough, but, as the 'Andrea Gail' chugs eastward, bad weather brews behind them; preventing a safe route home. Soon enough, they lose radio contact & are unaware of the enormity of the hurricane ahead of them. A Coast Guard helicopter, dispatched to save the inhabitants of the sailboat Mistral, is sent to look for the 'Andrea Gail', but runs into more trouble than the helicopter can handle. Billy is a great captain, but even he hasn't seen the likes of the waves they're encountering - some reaching 100 ft. high. And back home on dry land, the families & friends of these men sat & waited - hoping that their loved ones would return home safely (with or without their catch).
First & foremost, 'The Perfect Storm' is a walloping sea adventure. The stranded fishermen, the vessel, their gear, the boat, the storm, the conditions, the emotional ups & downs, the danger, the families fretting on the mainland ... it's what every sea adventure requires. Also, the first 30-45 minutes does exactly what it needed to do: slowly introduce the characters. By knowing them just a little bit more (what makes them tick, what's at stake for them), that makes us invested in them when the sh*t hits the fan out on the open seas. The tidbits we get in that 1st act goes a long way in getting involved with their strife; and that goes for all the women (and children) waiting back in their homestead, Gloucester.
Now, the film is far from 'perfect'. Because this is a high seas actioner, there isn't much depth. Some of the dialogue btwn. these men comes across as cheesy. The secondary plot featuring the Coast Guard trying to rescue the sailboat takes up considerable time; and, while it is interesting in & of itself, the main plot with the 'Andrea Gail' didn't necessarily need it in this movie. Though the intercutting btwn. the 2 plots has its moments. Also, while the special effect wizardry during the raging storm is magnificent, and while the suspense of what happens is almost unbearably intense ... I think that there was about 5 minutes or so (which is a lot) of too much rain, thunder, lightning, rain, undertow, wave, thunder, wave, rain ... you get my point. Sometimes less is more - even with a disaster flick, such as this.
All that said, 'The Perfect Storm' is a thrilling movie to experience. It's bold. It's relatable. And who doesn't fear the sea? And even if you know the outcome of what happens to these men - there's a sort of macabre fascination in watching it all play out. You know, a movie doesn't have to be perfect to be a classic. And though, I have distinct issues with the film, it burned up the box office & will play out on television for decades to come. It has that intangible hook. By balancing astute direction, good character portrayals, old-school storytelling, slick editing, turbulent wave action, monstrous sound effects, a rousing score, & whirlwind effects … 'The Perfect Storm' sticks the landing as a stellar summer blockbuster.
Capt. Billy Tyne (George Clooney), Bobby (Mark Wahlberg), a man in love; Dale (John C. Reilly), a devoted dad recently divorced; Sully (William Fichtner), a man with some demons; Bugsy (John Hawkes), who's finally met a woman who likes him; & Alfred (Allen Payne). After returning to shore with a less-than-impressive haul that earns him less than $6,000, the competitive Billy decides to take the 'Andrea Gail' out one last time for the season; intending to venture past the Grand Banks, all the way to the dangerous Flemish Cap, which most fishing boats simply don't travel to. The 5 members of his crew are hesitant (in fact, one says 'no go' - allowing Sully to step in), but agree to come because they know that need the $$. Bobby, urged by his girlfriend, Christina (Diane Lane), to stay behind with her, almost misses the boat when it sets sail - telling Billy that he loves his girl more than the sea.
The trip to the Flemish Cap goes well enough, but, as the 'Andrea Gail' chugs eastward, bad weather brews behind them; preventing a safe route home. Soon enough, they lose radio contact & are unaware of the enormity of the hurricane ahead of them. A Coast Guard helicopter, dispatched to save the inhabitants of the sailboat Mistral, is sent to look for the 'Andrea Gail', but runs into more trouble than the helicopter can handle. Billy is a great captain, but even he hasn't seen the likes of the waves they're encountering - some reaching 100 ft. high. And back home on dry land, the families & friends of these men sat & waited - hoping that their loved ones would return home safely (with or without their catch).
First & foremost, 'The Perfect Storm' is a walloping sea adventure. The stranded fishermen, the vessel, their gear, the boat, the storm, the conditions, the emotional ups & downs, the danger, the families fretting on the mainland ... it's what every sea adventure requires. Also, the first 30-45 minutes does exactly what it needed to do: slowly introduce the characters. By knowing them just a little bit more (what makes them tick, what's at stake for them), that makes us invested in them when the sh*t hits the fan out on the open seas. The tidbits we get in that 1st act goes a long way in getting involved with their strife; and that goes for all the women (and children) waiting back in their homestead, Gloucester.
Now, the film is far from 'perfect'. Because this is a high seas actioner, there isn't much depth. Some of the dialogue btwn. these men comes across as cheesy. The secondary plot featuring the Coast Guard trying to rescue the sailboat takes up considerable time; and, while it is interesting in & of itself, the main plot with the 'Andrea Gail' didn't necessarily need it in this movie. Though the intercutting btwn. the 2 plots has its moments. Also, while the special effect wizardry during the raging storm is magnificent, and while the suspense of what happens is almost unbearably intense ... I think that there was about 5 minutes or so (which is a lot) of too much rain, thunder, lightning, rain, undertow, wave, thunder, wave, rain ... you get my point. Sometimes less is more - even with a disaster flick, such as this.
All that said, 'The Perfect Storm' is a thrilling movie to experience. It's bold. It's relatable. And who doesn't fear the sea? And even if you know the outcome of what happens to these men - there's a sort of macabre fascination in watching it all play out. You know, a movie doesn't have to be perfect to be a classic. And though, I have distinct issues with the film, it burned up the box office & will play out on television for decades to come. It has that intangible hook. By balancing astute direction, good character portrayals, old-school storytelling, slick editing, turbulent wave action, monstrous sound effects, a rousing score, & whirlwind effects … 'The Perfect Storm' sticks the landing as a stellar summer blockbuster.