The Finest Hours

Review By: John Delia

One of the most visually spectacular sea stories The Finest Hours shows the courage, determination and stamina of a small crew of Coast Guardsmen who faced death during rescue operation in a raging storm. The depiction of the factual account gets so realistic and powerful that it will put you on the edge of your seat. The cinematography and CGI take you for a scary rollercoaster ride on huge waves during a tempest that’s one of the most remarkable piece of film footage for the screen.

The story takes us back to the year 1952 New England where a huge storm has reached the area and its offshore waters. Caught up in the fierce freak of nature are boats that are being pummeled by waves the size of downtown buildings. One of those is an oil tanker, the SS Pendleton, an immense freighter with over 30 crewmembers aboard. Sliced in half by a massive groundswell, the stern still remains afloat where engine operator Ray Sybert (Casey Affleck) has taken command.

On shore, the US Coastguard gets the message about the critical condition of the Pendleton. With the storm still intense, Chief Warrant Officer Daniel Cluff (Eric Bana), new to the shores of New England, makes a decision to send a Coast Guard Lifeboat to the stricken Pendleton lead by Boatswains Mate First Class Bernie Webber (Chris Pine). Along with Seaman Richard Lively (Ben Foster) and two other seamen, they head into the vicious waters intent on saving lives.

The film takes you inside the stricken ship that has become a tomb of sorts with only a spark of hope to save the men on board. The Coast Guard boat on the way to try the impossible is going up against unfavorable odds where they may be killed in the attempt. Director Craig Gillespie (Million Dollar Arm) takes the helm of this colossal undertaking and comes up a winner. He tells the story in dramatic fashion using his fine cast as linchpins to deliver the impact that the true story offers. The stellar performances by the whole cast and the amazing photography, sets and costumes combined with CGI make Gillespie’s film an extraordinary adventure.

The movie has a few side stories of which are usual in most adventure movies to flesh out characters that lead the action. To show a weak side to Bernie, the film inserts a flaw based on a past inability to save the men on a boat that was stranded off the coast of Boston in a previous horrendous storm. Adding to the effect on his character, Bernie has become engaged to Miriam (Holliday Grainger) who fears for his life and adds more drama to the film. Most all of American made films have Hollywood touches to show the human side of their heroes and both are nicely done in The Finest Hours.

The acting by the two main heroes, Chris Pine and Casey Affleck are exceptionally good. Both have equal time in the film and make their characters compelling and courageous. While Pine has the duty to show Bernie’s determination to rise above his past, Affleck’s Sybert has to take command of what’s left of the Pendleton under duress from the chain of command leader Tchuda Southerland (Josh Stewart). He pushes his crew to the brink as he attempts the unmanageable, moving half a ship without a front attempting to scuttle it till help arrives. Showing Sybert’s persistence and leadership Affleck actually steals the show.

The Finest Hours has been rated PG-13 by the MPAA for intense sequences of peril. Be cautious when deciding to allow immature children see the film as the storm, waves and attempt to save the lives on board the ship gets really forceful at times.

FINAL ANALYSIS: A very good film with an amazing story and cinematography that shows the courage of our Coast Guard heroes. (B)