Impressive special effects save this historical disaster flick from it's shortcomings

Rating: 6/10 (14 September 2016)

From Walt Disney studios comes not children's movie based on a classic fairy tale or a classic source material the general Disney fanatic families have often been accustom to, but an intense wild ride of a biographical adventure illustrating the bravery and struggles of the U.S Coast Guard when they embarked on a treacherous journey to save a team of oil tankers who's ship faced demolition during the nasty winter storm that rolled through the Atlantic. This mission took place back in February 1952 during the Cold War era, and for many decades, has been called "one of the greatest rescue missions in the history of the U.S Coast Guard". Director Craig Gillipse, the man behind the remake of 'Fright Night' and 'Million Dollar Arm' offers an intense inside look in the events that took place that fateful day, but certainly not without a small of shortcomings in the narrative and overall direction. But in the end, the film makes an enormous ride that is more forgiving than flawed. The film opens up in 1951 when U.S Coast Guarder Bernie Webber (played by Chris Pine) meets the Miriam (played by Holliday Grainger), the girl of his dreams and starts a heart- warming relationship with. A few months pass by and Webber has proposed to marry Miriam, but is soon called back to the Coast Guard when a massive winter storm rolls through the Atlantic causing an oil ship SS Pendleton manned by Captain Ray Sybert (played by Casey Affleck) to split in half. With their ship sinking and Sybert and his crew in stranded in the midst of the powerful storm, Webber and his crew members Andrew Fitzgerald (played by Kyle Gallner), Erin Maske (played by John Maguro), and Seaman Richars Livesey (played by Ben Foster) are ordered by Commander Daniel Kloff (played by Eric Bana) to set out on their small boat through the stormy Altantic Ocean and save the crew of oil tankers.
Sitting through this 116-minute disaster flick, it is quite easy to feel constantly reminiscent of 'The Perfect Storm' another disaster film based on the true story. From the terrifying storm sequences and the story of 'men versus nature', these films certainly feel awfully similar. This one however, goes for a more uplifting and less dark approach as it is Disney behind the development. That is not say that Disney hasn't been subject to a few somber projects however, as this film does center on a story that ended in tragedy as well as triumph; and it does a pleasant but flawed job of capturing the intensity of the fateful rescue mission. From the opening minutes of the violent winter storm, audiences are subject to terrifying sequences of Chris Pine and his crew as they battle through the fierce atrocities of the storm including 70-foot waves, and the fate of Casey Affleck and his crew as they are stranded abound the SS Pendleton that is less than a few hours from sinking to the bottom of the ocean. These scenes come to life through some dazzling special effects and impressive CGI, making for some nice and terrifying scenery; though it is a bit boggling how these characters manage to get soaked underwater during a winter storm and not show any signs of hypothermia. The special effects are the major appeal that save the film from it's writing occasionally messy writing. While the film succeeds in the level of intensity and emotional resonance, it more often than not tends to be all over the place in the narrative place, mainly as the main story centering on the rescue of the sinking SS Pendleton is constantly intertwined with a subplot of the main character's wife and the tumultuous relationship with the Coast Guard officers, as well as the struggle of Casey Affleck and his crew in the aftermath of their demolished ship. Compared to the main plot, this latter subplot is weakly executed and serves more as a distraction to the story. On the bright side, we are gladly provided with some great performances with a great cast including Chris Pine, Casey Affleck, Holliday Grainger, John Maguro, and Ben Foster. Eric Bana also does a terrific job, though he tends to struggle his southern accent in a few scenes.
The Finest Hours may not rise to the level of it's true ambitions, but it is a tense, uplifting disaster adventure that will please movie goers just enough surprises to distract from at least some its shortcomings. While this movie may not maintain the same quality status as 'The Perfect Storm' (which is somewhat underrated), it is at least worth a try but perhaps not for everyone.