It is what it's billed as...

Rating: 6/10 (11 May 2000)

When I first heard about "U-571" I was very excited. A World War II film about U-boats and concentrating on naval battles from the writer/director of 1997's surprise thriller "Breakdown". But, oh yes there's a "but", the first trailer released billed it as a gung-ho action flick, which is what it really was.
NINE GUYS STUCK IN HOSTILE WATERS...IN AN ENEMY VESSEL...WITH BIG MACHINE GUNS AND A LOT OF LUCK! That is all Jonathan Mostow's thriller offers besides no thrills. Unfortunately, the big finale wasn't that big. There was no real climax to the film, nothing on the edge of your seat because you know what is going to happen.
THE PLOT. An American submarine is sent on a "hush-hush" Super secret mission to steal an enigma decoding machine from a stranded German U-boat which is floating in dismal waters waiting for a re-supply sub. The American sub is disguised as the re-supply sub to give them just enough time to take the U-boat by force. A small platoon of men is sent to overpower the sub. Well, unfortunately, the men onboard the U-boat lose their ride home and have to commandeer the vehicle for now. Well just follow this for a bit and don't include any excitement and that is what this dull action war thriller is all about.
I figured with a great director and an impressive cast including Harvey Keitel, Bill Paxton, Matthew McConaughey, and, of course, Jon Bon Jovi, I expected a lot more than even the face value trailer had to offer.
All in all, an action/thriller that leaves the viewer cold and alone in the water.
6/10