This World War 2 Throwback is Worth Keeping

Rating: Null/10 (21 October 2000)

U-571 is an old-fashioned World War 2 submarine chase movie. But even though it does not measure up to the 1981 classic Das Boot, it is engaging and well made enough to recommend.
The story is for the most part predictable, even though there are a few surprises. Lt. Andrew Tyler (Matthew McConaughey, unrecognizable in a crew cut and never smiling) is passed over for a submarine command early in the film because his superior isn't sure he has the necessary leadership abilities. We know immediately that the McConaughey character will be given that opportunity, and likely will succeed.
McConaughey and his crew are to board a disabled German submarine to capture an Enigma cipher machine. They're successful, but in the process their sub is torpedoed, and they must guide the German sub to safety and the Enigma to the proper authorities so that the Allies can win the war. No need to guess how this movie will end.
There are two tense battles in the film, and the requisite number of scenes of the German sub creaking and taking in water while trying to dodge depth charges.
The audience is mercifully spared two scenes: The training of the American crew to board the German sub and an emotional ceremony at the end. Credit Jonathan Mostow with wise editing choices that keep the movie under two hours.