Why fiddle with the truth?

Rating: Null/10 (1 August 2004)

My biggest disappointments with this film are the obvious inaccuracies, both visually and in the plot.
Harrison Ford magically changes rank between scenes; crew members are openly insubordinate, with few if any repercussions. The Executive Officer abandons his post, and instead of instant arrest the captain can only threaten "you will be in my report."
And so on. It defies credulity.
True, the submarine's sets are amazingly accurate, but what are we to think of the film's authenticity when the radio operator is also the crew member who visually confirms the missile launch? Who's operating the radio?
There are too many Navy vets in the audience to fudge on a movie like this. The Wackiest Ship In The Army, yes, but not a fact-based film.
Once again, a compelling true story is measurably diminished by deviations from the truth and other dramatic shortcuts. The fact that National Geographic was a party to the offense only makes me wonder what everyone was thinking when they pushed the "print" button on this script.
Thank goodness the actors were up to the task, fake Russian accents and all. The story of K-19 certainly deserves to be told.