Unsinkable

Rating: 7/10 (12 June 2004)

What I like best about films is when they manage to be entertaining while at the same thing avoiding to repeat the common clichés of their genres. 'U-571' is quite a good example of how that can be achieved. If you like submarine movies like 'Crimson Tide' but wish that had some more war-like-realistic action packaged into all the thrill, then this one may serve your wishes. McConaughey, though usually not the best of actors (but quite good in 'Frailty'), has one of his more memorable roles. Bill Paxtons part is shorter, but it's always a joy to see him act (not to mention if his acts and directs, as was also the case in 'Frailty'). Harvey Keitel has had much worse parts than this one. The German Thomas Kretschmann is fine too, and Jon Bon Jovi looks twenty years younger than he actually is. Direction and script, given it is typical Hollywood warhorse, are good as well, and Richard Marvins music score offers a congenial essay in orchestral tour-de-force. If you don't mind that the historic reality looked a bit different (but who minds that when watching fiction?), then 'U-571' is one of the better entries into the genre.