u-571

Rating: 5/10 (11 May 2017)

I remember hearing the title of this film, I recognised it was something to do with a submarine or ship, but I was also attracted to it by the all-star cast in it, directed by Jonathan Mostow (Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, Surrogates). Basically set in World War II, allied forces have been having trouble against the German Navy, especially their U-Boats, because of their highly sophisticated cipher machines and the Enigma code. One German U-Boat is damaged and awaits assistance, the Americans decide that this incidence is an opportunity for them to get the cipher machine. So they have a submarine made up to resemble a German U-Boat, it is called U-571, and they plan to pretend to be the ship sent to assist the damaged U-Boat, to take control and take the machine and destroy it. Lieutenant Andrew Tyler (Matthew McConaughey) takes command of U-571, after Lieutenant Commander Mike Dahlgren (Bill Paxton) is seriously wounded during a torpedo attack on his ship, other crew members include Chief Gunner's Mate Henry Klough (Harvey Keitel), and Lieutenant Pete Emmett (Jon Bon Jovi). Everything goes according to plan, they get the machine and are ready to leave, but out of nowhere they are torpedoed by a German relief ship, initially Dahlgren did not feel Tyler was ready to make tough decisions, now that he is commanding he and the survivors must do whatever it takes tor survive. Also starring David Keith as Major Matthew Coonan, King Kong's Thomas Kretschmann as Captain-Lieutenant Gunther Wassner, Homeland's Jake Weber as Lieutenant Hirsch, Jack Noseworthy as Seaman Bill Wentz, Tom Guiry as Seaman Ted 'Trigger' Fitzgerald, Will Estes as Seaman Ronald 'Rabbit' Parker and Final Destination 2's Terrence 'T.C.' Carson as Steward Eddie Carson. The cast of Americans are all alright, but you cannot believe the story, because it was the British who got hold of the Enigma cipher machine, it is definitely a fictional story, this is essentially just popcorn fodder, nonsense, but with plenty of exciting explosions and engaging enough underwater battle sequences, a reasonable Second World War action thriller. It won the Oscar for Best Sound Editing, and it was nominated for Best Sound. Worth watching!