A Perfect 10 In Every Way

Rating: 10/10 (5 May 2001)

I was glued to the edge of my seat from the start to the finish of this magnificent account of the crew of a US Navy submarine given the mission of boarding a German U-Boat in World War II to capture a top-secret German coding device known as "Enigma."
This movie is action-packed and full of suspense. A dull moment never intrudes on your enjoyment of it. Matthew McConnaughy is brilliant as Lieutenant Andrew Tyler. In addition to the sheer excitement of the mission, McConnaughy is the central figure in the coming-of-age subplot. Tyler, Executive Officer of the US sub, was denied a command of his own because his captain (played by Bill Paxton) felt that, when push came to shove, he would be unable to order men to die when necessary. When the captain is killed during the mission, Tyler has to take command and overcome his shortcomings to save as many of the crew as he can. Harvey Keitel offers a strong performance as Chief Engineer Klough, a Navy veteran who has doubts about Tyler's ability, and serves as something of a father-figure to him. Keitel's best scene is undoubtedly his confrontation with Tyler after a particularly powerful display of Tyler's self-doubt. "Don't you ever say `I don't know' again," he says. "The captain always knows - even when he doesn't."
Marvelous performances, great directing by Jonathon Mostow who gives the viewer the feel of being on the sub, and a wonderful original score by Richard Marvin all add up to make this the finest movie I've seen in a long time. Recommended for anyone who wants to have some excitement in their lives.
A perfect 10.