Brings The Real-Life Disaster To Cinematic Life In A Direct, Serious & No-Nonsense Fashion

Rating: Null/10 (8 September 2017)

Deepwater Horizon approaches its real-life subject matter like a deep breath before the plunge, exhibits a sense of apprehension from its opening moments, and provides an incredibly intense, thoroughly unrelenting & ruthlessly aggressive cinematic experience once things go south.
Based on the man-made disaster that took place on the titular oil drilling rig back in 2010 and was responsible for the worst oil spill in US history, Deepwater Horizon provides a dramatised account of the event, what ultimately caused it, and the measures that were taken to save & evacuate the numerous lives on board.
Directed by Peter Berg, the movie moves to the site of disaster real quick once the characters are introduced and from that point onwards, it steadily keeps ratcheting up the tension which then ultimately explodes on screen in a spectacular fashion. Berg directs the segments without holding anything back and keeps things engaging at all times.
Further elevating the experience is the way Berg shoots those moments of carnage. The explosion, the destruction, the suddenness of it all is vibrantly photographed & masterly edited while sound design is top-notch & effectively utilised and works in tandem with its silently brewing score. CGI isn't overblown and only assists in magnifying the elements of the disaster as it unfolds.
Coming to the acting department, Deepwater Horizon features a fine cast in Mark Wahlberg, Kurt Russell, John Malkovich, Gina Rodriguez, Kate Hudson & others but only Wahlberg & Russell are able to stand out. Wahlberg plays the central character with sincerity and is brilliantly supported by Russell who chips in with a strong performance of his own. The rest play their part competently.
On an overall scale, Deepwater Horizon may not feature taut screenplay or memorable characters but it sure packs a powerful punch that leaves a mark when it finally lands. Add to that, the story depicts the real-life incident without diluting it with poor dialogues or excess melodrama that many examples of its genre are guilty of, and instead opts for a serious, direct & no-nonsense approach in bringing it to cinematic life. Definitely worth a shot.