CAPTAINS COURAGEOUS

Rating: Null/10 (22 July 2002)

K-19: THE WIDOWMAKER (2002) **1/2 Harrison Ford, Liam Neeson, Peter Sarsgaard. Based on actual events this Cold War thriller suffers from Hollywood-ization all too blatantly in taking its story about a Russian nuclear submarine making its maiden voyage to the United States with its dueling captains (a blunt Ford and a noble Neeson, both sporting questionable Soviet accents) facing impossible odds when a radioactive leak threatens their mission. The script by Christopher Kyle and Louis Nowra have the best intentions in showing the Â‘enemy' in a humane light that succeeds but is only lost when the limp third act bows to political correctness and predictability throughout loses the intent: unsung heroes in a nightmarish situation. Director Kathryn Bigelow plays all her cards right even if they are stacked against her favor; she does the best she can in the waterlogged histrionics set up.