A (mostly) true, gripping cliff hanger

Rating: 6/10 (27 July 2002)

This story is `inspired' by true events that happened at the height of the cold war. Even so, you have already seen all of the basic elements of this film, in other (and arguably better) films.
Harrison Ford is one of the best journeyman actors in American films. But he has a non-threatening quality about him that makes him unsuited to play the autocratic captain assigned to carry out the mission at any cost. Unfortunately, Liam Neeson shares this softer quality with Mr. Ford, so even a role switch wouldn't have worked well.
For me, the breakout scene-stealer of this movie was Peter Sarsgaard. Playing a nuclear reactor officer fresh out of school, he fairly sparkles every time he's on camera. He gets to really chew the scenery in one of the tensest moments in the film, and I predict that someone besides me is going to notice his special qualities. If they sold stock in this guy I'd be loading up!
For students of these sorts of things, you are going to see some amazing cinematography (just what kind of camera booms do they have nowadays?), some very mediocre special effects (think Hunt For Red October), some really, really great costumes (do I smell an Oscar?), and submarine interior sets that you would never believe are sets. The other Oscar that this movie is going to be in the running for is makeup. You're also going to like the music a lot.
There just isn't enough story, characters, or action to fill the two hours, so you're going to have to sit through a lot of sweeping shots of Mr. Ford atop the sub's conning tower as the boat cuts through the water.
Bottom line: If you're a Harrison Ford and Liam Neeson fan (like me), or if you're a submarine movie fan (again, guilty), or if you remember what the world was like when America and the USSR were constantly teetering on the brink of war (I'm 3 for 3), then you should see this movie. Everyone does good jobs of acting, and the movie is generally easy on the eyes.