Movie Review: The Finest Hours

 

 
Film Info
 

Release Date: January 29, 2016
 
MPAA Rating: PG-13
 
Starring: Chris Pine, Holiday Grainger, Casey Affleck, and Eric Bana
 
Director: Craig Gillespie
 
Writer: Scott Silver, Paul Tamasy and Eric Johnson
 
Producer: Dorothy Aufiero and James Whitaker
 
Distributor: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
 
External Info: Official Site
 
Genre: ,
 
Critic Rating
 
 
 
 
 


User Rating
8 total ratings

 

What We Liked


Loved the cinematography and the lack of profanity.

What We Didn't Like


It is slow moving.


0
Posted  January 29, 2016 by

 
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February of 1952 brought about an epic winter storm off the coast of Cape Cod, the Coast Guard made one of history’s bravest attempts at rescuing a split in half oil tanker (one of two ships demolished that evening). The new film, The Finest Hours is the account of those events.

I had very high hopes for this film, based on true events. The Finest Hours having a wonderful cast, Chris Pine plays lead as Bernie Webber, the shy, insecure Coast Guard captain with a failed history of rescue attempts. Then there is Holiday Granger who plays Webber’s love interest Miriam, the beautiful, bold, aggressive The Finest Hours Posterwoman that is bound and determined to get what she wants. The cast also includes, Casey Affleck in the integral role of Ray Sybert, the sinking ship’s operations manager.

We are taken through the events and unfortunately the 117-minute film seemed to go on much longer than that. I think it could be best described as having too many lingering scenes, the kind of scenes that were probably intended to become classics, but alas did not produce. A big disappointment for me is when you aren’t invested in the lead characters romance. Unfortunately, you just didn’t feel the love. Don’t get me wrong, the film wasn’t a total disaster, it just never came together and frankly had every opportunity to become epic. Even Eric Bana, who played Daniel Cluff, the Coast Guard commander fell short.

What did go well was the cinematography. Enough can’t be said for the absolutely incredible scenes of a very angry sea, with mammoth, extremely daunting seventy foot waves. The amazing demolition of the oil tanker, split in half and the anticipation for its demise. When Bernie and his crew of three head out to try and save the tankers crew of over thirty souls, their lifeboat has to get past what they call the “Bar.” It’s an area where the tides are going every which way and are nearly impossible to get past. This was definitely extraordinary footage of this phenomenon.

Another very interesting, yet subtle positive from The Finest Hours was the masterful way the Disney film had absolutely no swearing, nothing that could be considered vulgar or inappropriate. I honestly have not experienced this in a film in a very long time. As they say, “It was refreshing.”

Betsy Cizek

Betsy Cizek

Betsy resides in Michigan. She is presently writing a novel and pursuing a Freelance writing career. It’s important to her that her writing combines sensitivity, honesty and a hint of sarcasm to create a relatable experience with the reader. Having a passion for film and an all around American pie opinion, she aspires to have the sensibility for what the average Joe might enjoy.