Enjoyable... from middle to middle.

Rating: Null/10 (4 January 2001)

When I saw this movie in the theatre I left at a happy medium. I mean, the intensity of the whole second act was enough to wet anyone's whistle, what with the wonderful action sequences and the taunt suspense of the hunt. But I was left high and dry with the before and after of the whole story.

The beginning of the film seems to do the random set up of characters. We "meet" the soldiers at a "connect the dots" pace, going from one to the next. We discover the usual "rivalry" between some of the men and their ranks. And we get to know Matthew McConaughey's character. He, of course, is the typical "buddy buddy with the troops" commander. A leader that is stuck behind higher command. He is the underdog of the picture. The one who will lead when the odds are against him.
The film really gets going when the men take off on their mission. The whole second act is filled with rich imagery and exciting action. The thrill of the voyage... the intensity of the espionage... the fear of survival... but I don't want to give anything away to anybody. Just trust me on this, the second act is well worth sitting through the first act.

But, once the action is over, once the story goes in a calming direction, once the second act comes to a close, the film just seems to end. In fact, they seemed to have forgotten a third act! No third act. No resolution. No nothing! We were just left to wonder what must have happened to them.

U-571 is an enjoyable film once we get aboard the subs. The action is fast paced and the suspense keeps us glued. Actually, there aren't many submarine movies I can think of that are bad, and this one isn't that bad either. It isn't as good as DAS BOOT, HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER, or CRIMSON TIDE, yet you will still enjoy this voyage.