Thematic interest, undeveloped thrills

Rating: 5/10 (4 January 2020)

K-19: THE WIDOWMAKER is one of director Kathryn Bigelow's less well-known films, a character study set aboard a Russian nuclear submarine. It's supposedly based on true events from the 1960s, but the main focus is on offering a battle of wits between two Hollywood heavy-hitters: Harrison Ford and Liam Neeson. It's a tale of courage and leadership, of responsibility and the familial relationships between naval crew members. There are also thriller aspects woven into the plot, particularly those involving a radiation leak on board. The latter don't work as well, never being particularly exciting or disturbing as in rival fare like CRIMSON TIDE or even the recent CHERNOBYL. Watchable for the cast, then, but the director's HURT LOCKER blows this away in terms of movie-making.