“The Perfect Storm”
"The Perfect Storm" — (PG-13)The first thing you see on the screen is that this film is based on a true story and while one may argue about what has been done to the truth in this film, let us not forget that this is also a story. If you want the truth watch a documentary or read the book.
What this film does accomplish is take you along on the Andrea Gail as
she and her captain and crew, played by George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg and John C. Reilly among others, try to catch one last ship-full of swordfish before the season ends. Given the title of the film it's no surprise that this trip doesn't go as planned.
Wolfgang Peterson, the director, starts things off slowly, introducing the characters and their reasons for taking one more trip to sea. Unfortunately, when the storm gathers itself together and enters the plot, the only thing we can do is watch the characters deal with it as best they can. If you like your action and adventure tinged with a dash of dread this is the film for you.
In the end I felt that the film was well directed and exciting if a little short on character and plot. It also left me with the desire to read the book.
DM: Man, that was intense. Nobody, and I mean nobody, puts you in the action like Wolfgang Peterson. Old Woolfie makes you sweat buckets worse than Richard Simmons after too much caffeine.
If there's one thing that makes the movie go, it's the ability of the storyline, the actors and Peterson's directorial abilities to make you really care for the characters.
The special effects are cool and all, but it's the emotional draining that you'll remember the most.
Not only are you almost physically with them in the storm, you're heart is pouring out for them. You yearn for them to make it home safely. These guys are just average working joes, stuck in a little bad luck.
DT: A little bad luck?
DM: Okay, a whole ocean-full of bad luck. Sure, they brought some of it on themselves, but you care so much for them that you can forgive them for their faults.
Once this movie is over, you'll feel like you were out there on the ocean with them.
Score: DM 65, DT 72