Relentless action and suspense

Rating: 8/10 (10 June 2009)

Lovers of "Das Boot," get in line and see "U-571." Submarine warfare has returned to the big screen, and it's a non-stop thriller! While not a true story, it's still a lot of fun. And besides, who goes to a summer action movie to actually learn something?
The set-up is genius. A U.S. Navy Submarine led by Lt. Cmdr. Mike Dahlgren (Bill Paxton) is given a crucial assignment. Steal a code machine from a crippled U-boat (German submarine). Everything goes according to plan, except the U.S. sub is destroyed by a nearby German vessel, and the boarding party, led by Lt. Andrew Tyler (Matthew McConaughey) is left to command the broken sub.
This is an action movie, and it doesn't pretend to be anything it isn't. In a movie like this, all that matters is action, action, and more action. Suspense is desired, but a movie can succeed without it. Fortunately, "U-571" has both, and in great amounts. The story starts out slowly to help us get to know the characters, but once the action starts, it doesn't let up. Ever.
"U-571" is populated by a number of good performances. In general, I don't like Matthew McConaughey. In the right role, he can be effective, but usually he just mails in performances in formulaic romantic comedies. But "U-571" calls for him to carry the movie on his own, and he delivers. Andrew Tyler is a man who thinks he knows what to do, but it turns out he has a lot of learning to do. He can alternately be like a father figure and a tough-as-nails, do-what-I-say-or-else commander. McConaughey hits every note. He's aided by his CPO Henry Klough, ably played by Harvey Keitel. Klough is a man who does his job no matter what, and expects everyone to do the same. He's the veteran among the crew, but he knows his place, and he stays there. Jake Weber is suitably mysterious as the man who knows everything about the code machine, but doesn't talk about it unless he has to. This is a guy who spends his time behind a desk instead of out in the field, so being in an situation is not something he's used to (then again, nor is to for anyone else, but they're submarine sailors, and he isn't). Rounding out the young (though severely underdeveloped) cast are David Keith, Jon Bon Jovi, Tom Guiry, Will Estes, Jack Noseworthy, Terrence 'T.C.' Carson, Erik Palladino and Dave Power. All are likable and perform ably. Thomas Kretschmann is the German hostage, but again, he's not that developed.
One of the reasons that "U-571" works as well as it does is that director Jonathan Mostow is able to create a claustrophobic atmosphere. Any personality deficiencies are not as problematic because we feel right like we're there with the crew. But Mostow's skill doesn't end there. He keeps things moving, and the audience never has a break from the tension. Just as one situation closes, another one is right around the corner. In retrospect, this decreases credibility, but for the constraints of a two-hour movie, it doesn't matter. Besides, you won't be thinking about it while you're watching it.
Comparisons to the classic WWII submarine movie "Das Boot" are unavoidable. In terms of quality, Wolfgang Peterson's classic is better, but for those who don't have the time (or can't stand subtitles), "U-571" does the trick. Or if you're just looking for a two-hour jolt of adrenaline, this movie will work for that too. Either way, "U-571" doesn't disappoint.