Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Benjamin Walker, Cillian Murphy
Directed By: Ron Howard
Running Time: 122 Minutes
UK Release Date: December 26th 2015
BBFC Certificate: 12A
Ron Howard returns to direct the film based on the script, based on the book, that’s based on the true story that Moby Dick was based on. As one can imagine I won’t be fact checking this film for historical accuracies.
In the Heart of the Sea tells the story of the whaling vessel The Essex, which, while on voyage in 1820, was attacked by a monstrous whale forcing its crew to abandon ship. This is a sea faring adventure which turns into a quest for survival against all odds with many dramatic moments throughout, but it unfortunately doesn’t live up to its potential.
The film is told mostly via flashback in 1850 by The Essex’s only living survivor, Tom Nickerson (Brendon Gleeson) to author Herman Melville (Ben Whishaw), who has heard the legend and wants inspiration for his next book, which would become Moby Dick. Nickerson recounts the story of his 14-year-old self (played by future Spider-Man Tom Holland), mainly focusing on the relationship between the ship’s experienced first mate Owen Chase (Chris Hemsworth) and inexperienced Captain, George Pollard (Benjamin Walker).
Early on we discover that Chase was promised his own vessel to command but the Pollard name is strong in the whale oil shipping trade. As such his bloodline is more powerful and he has higher social status than Chase, who does his best to endure Pollard’s pomposity, but sure enough they are eventually squabbling like a married couple. Chase has a pregnant wife at home and yearns for a ship of his own, and Pollard has his father’s approval to earn and his family name to uphold, whatever the costs.
Hemsworth is good as the man who should be captain, but his arrogance at points is annoying and we would all rather see him back playing Thor. Likewise, Walker becomes annoying quickly and plays it safe as the aristocratic captain who’s out of his depth (pun intended). Amongst the crew is Chase’s childhood friend Matthew Joy, played by Cillian Murphy, who is great as ever yet unfortunately underused. We have a few other background faces which serve as nothing but whale fodder.
The film has some great dramatic moments and action but I would advise avoiding the trailer, which I saw after the screening and it spoils a lot. Unfortunately, I didn’t feel a lot of tension even in the whale attacks as I knew at least one crewman survived and I didn’t think that the top billed cast would perish. Well, I was mostly right.
It is being advertised as from the director of Apollo 13 (which although great was released 20 years ago) and to be honest I haven’t seen a decent Ron Howard film in years. Unfortunately this isn’t his great return but I am eager to see what he does producing The Dark Tower series.
I also find it odd that this is Warner Brother’s big Christmas release as it isn’t an awards film (despite what they may have hoped) and will lose out to a certain science fiction film out this festive season. As sad as it sounds I predict the film will flop and would be more suited as a spring release, although it feels like a Sunday afternoon drama (but with a bigger budget) and is probably best viewed as such.
Note: Having completed this review I then read that this film was pushed back from a previously planned March release date, and didn’t make a lot on its American release weekend. Can someone hire me as a movie industry analyst please?
The film’s premise is good but it has pacing issues and the ending feels dragged out and anticlimactic, lacking any emotional punch for the survivors. It has many elements that work such as the overall fine acting, some good cinematography and the use of fast editing and a pumping soundtrack in the action scenes. But the constant use of claustrophobic close up shots that look like they were shot on a GoPro is just distracting and takes you out of the film as this is a modern visual trend more associated with shoot-em ups.
One theme I did like was the ecological message of man vs nature. Before we began drilling holes in the ground the whale oil industry was a huge global business which no doubt decimated the whale population. We see the exciting adventure of a whale hunt turned into bleak sadness through the eyes of Nickerson before the carcass is butchered, and if this film does have a message it’s that nature will find a way to defend itself. Another message is that the quest for oil is what turns men into monsters, but I think I’m looking too deeply into it.
What we have is a film that may look good on paper but doesn’t truly thrill and only has 1 laugh throughout. It is entertaining but not something I would highly recommend. The review screening was presented in 2D but I can’t imagine that the extra dimension would add anything more.
Overall Verdict: Enjoyable enough but doesn’t utilise its actors, setting or story to its full potential. If you want a great film about a monster at sea watch Jaws (1975) or just settle with one of the many versions of Moby Dick.
Reviewer: George Elcombe
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