ViewGuide

Created Jan 15, 2008 02:22PM PST • Edited Jan 15, 2008 02:22PM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   Really Great 4.5

   Brilliant vehicle for Gene Hackman as the grizzled, experience-hardened commander of a nuclear sub brought into existential conflict with Denzel Washington cast as the embodiment of the “new navy” – trained to be 100% professional but with no combat experience. The sub receives an order to fire its missiles during a time of heightened tension, but then is cut off before receiving either confirmation or the order to stand down. Hackman feels sufficient urgency to bend the rules; Washington is forced into direct conflict and the crew is caught between them.

4. Acting

   Really Great 4.5

5. Male Stars Perfect 5.0

   This film lives or dies on the acting of the two stars; and they are each brilliant; if anything they enhance one another’s performance.

6. Female Stars Perfect 5.0

   There are none (set at 5 to keep the overall score appropriate)

7. Female Costars Perfect 5.0

   There are none (set at 5 to keep the overall score appropriate)

8. Male Costars Great 4.0

   The co-stars aren’t called upon to do much, but the few confrontations that involve the crew are blisteringly tense and believable.

10. Film

    Great 4.0

    Not for one moment do you doubt you are on the sub.

11. Direction Perfect 5.0

    The tension is never let up, the pacing is perfect, the cinematography is beautiful and never gets in the way.

12. Play Perfect 5.0

    Some of the best writing in any thriller I’ve seen

13. Music Very Good 3.5

    Not memorable, nor intrusive

14. Visuals Great 4.0

    Total immersion experience

15. Content

16. Edge

    Risqué 1.9

17. Sex Innocent 1.1

    Not a factor

18. Violence Gentle 1.4

    The violence is psychological; not physical

19. Rudeness Profane 3.1

    Exactly appropriate to the circumstances

21. Reality

    Glib 1.5

22. Circumstantial Surreal 2.5

    You have to accept the premise, that the order to launch would be given in the first place under the conditions they describe. Not a fatal weakness, but not totally convincing.

23. Biological Natural 1.0

    Physical life aboard the sub feels right, at least to one who has never done it.

24. Physical Natural 1.0

    Once you accept the circumstances, everything else falls into place