Despite lugubrious first half, chronicle of oil rig explosion and heroic crew member actions, hits the mark

Rating: 7/10 (1 May 2017)

If you want to learn about the greatest oil spill ever as well as the greatest environmental disaster in US history, Deepwater Horizon is the film to watch. The most incredible thing about this film is the set—a reproduction of the semi-submersible Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit (MODU) which blew up—it's as if you're watching the real thing!
Deepwater is basically a great technical achievement. As far as the story—a good part of it has a documentary feel. Our protagonist is the real-life Chief Electronics Techician Mike Williams played by Mark Wahlberg. Early on we meet his wife and young daughter and unfortunately the beginning of the film is quite lugubrious as there isn't much drama involving William's family life.
Only after Williams ships out to the oil rig do things become moderately interesting. Director Peter Berg, utilizing inter-titles, informs us that the rig is run by a private contractor, Transocean, and led by the stalwart safety engineer, "Mr. Jimmy" (played by a convincing Kurt Russell). Ironically the day the rig blew up, Mr. Jimmy was receiving an award for his excellent safety record on the rig.
A conflict erupts between Mr. Jimmy and the BP (British Petroleum) Manager Donald Vidrine (played by a not so recognizable John Malkovich). Mr. Jimmy wants Vidrine to conduct a "pressure test" which will ensure the stability of the entire platform. Vidrine really wants to cut corners and gives a not so plausible explanation as to why he feels the test isn't necessary.
I've read that Vidrine actually didn't give the orders not to conduct the test —that was attributed to some other manager; ultimately, it was BP execs offshore who had the final word on that. But Vidrine makes a nice foil to Kurt Russell's character so there is a bit of dramatic license taken here.
No need to go into great detail as far as the depiction of the explosion and its aftermath. Suffice it to say that Wahlberg does an excellent job highlighting William's heroic actions saving crew members as well as himself by jumping from the rig into water laced with burning oil.
If disaster movies are your thing, then Deepwater Horizon should be for you. As a fitting memorial to those who perished (11 in total), director Berg makes good on depicting the sacrifice involved. A good half of the movie is exposition but there's enough heroic derring-do to keep you glued to your seat in the second half.