I don't know

Rating: Null/10 (22 April 2000)

Think of World War II submarine movies and the trail always leads to "The Enemy Below" and "Das Boot". It seems anything else, like "U-571", would just be imitation. And yet this film throws in lessons about leadership which transcend it from merely a submarine yarn to a moving account of the conduct of Navy men and their commanders. As commented on by others, it also marks a new beginning for actor Matthew McConaughey, emerging from the throes of the forgettable "ED-TV" and "Contact", to a strong film presence that develops before our very eyes, like John Wayne in "Stagecoach". "U-571" doesn't have a very believable plot (a super-important project with no backup support) but that is more than compensated by the nervy scenes that transpire. You can always thrill an audience by depth charges thrown at a defenseless sub or the seals and bolts popping as the sub dives beyond its limit or the torpedoes that have to be aimed squarely to blow up intended targets. But "U-571" also tells the story of a Navy Lieutenant who can't measure up to being a Captain until he is willing to give up not only himself but also his men for a mission. As skillfully acted by McConaughey with a bevy of credible support - Harvey Keitel as the Chief, Bill Paxton as the Captain, Jon Bon Jovi as Emmett, and Jake Weber as Hirsch, "U-571" more than entertains you, it teaches you a lesson about the military sacrifice of men.