A cheap shot

Rating: Null/10 (28 September 2000)

While in technical terms and background research this film deserves a solid A, it does not excel in the story or cinematography department. Maybe a few scenes touch sensitive nerves with German audiences, but the frequent attempts to use propaganda style devices to label the enemies (i.e. the Germans) as stubborn Nazi villains in a simple black/white style might be in order in a Fifties' movie. U-571 does have its moments, but if you want to see a truly thrilling submarine movie, rent "Das Boot". Jonathan Mostow frequently "quoted" that film. Compare the similar scenes when the surfaced German sub encounters survivors from a sunken ship, and it will make my point clear on who did a better job; but do read the comments on "Das Boot" for a few non-German voices about the film.
U-571 puts way too much heroism into a story like this. Having lost a grandfather in a sub who left behind his diaries I think that few submariners felt heroic when going out there.