Bernie Webber (Chris Pine) is an earnest, by the books Coast Guardsman, who has become smitten by telephone operator Miriam (Holliday Grainger). Before he has a chance to ask his commanding officer (Eric Bana) permission to marry Miriam (as per regulations), he’s asked to help tie down some boats in the harbor, as the New England coast prepares for the impending snowstorm.
A few miles off the coast, an oil rig is in the throws of the storm, and its engineer Ray Sybert (Casey Affleck) is concerned that the ship will not withstand the captain’s orders to stay at its current speed. His concerns are confirmed, and the rig is torn in half, leaving most of the crew stranded at sea. Guardsmen Webber is given the task to take a small crew out and attempt a rescue, despite the impossible odds.
This sets up the true story that’s told in The Finest Hours. Based on the book by Michael J. Tougias and Casey Sherman, the film chronicles the Coast Guard’s most celebrated small boat rescue (the book details the events of a second oil rig in need of rescue, but the film just mentions it in passing). The film splits its time between three story lines- the crew of the oil tanker doing everything they can to survive the horrific ordeal, Bernie and his crew battling the storm to reach the tanker, and Mariam’s concern for Bernie back on shore. While Mariam’s story gives the film some added emotional gravity (thanks to Grainger’s performance), it’s ultimately unnecessary. The drama of the rescrescue itself would be more than enough to carry the film. Miriam’s story does pay off to a certain extent in the the end, but throughout the rest of the movie it manages to just break up the rhythm of the film.
The film’s leads provide some really nice, underplayed performances. Both Pine and Affleck play characters with similar traits; quiet and reserved, brimming with insecurities. Each are forced into a position of leadership, and have to try to overcome their shortcomings to accomplish their goals. While those traits may or may not be shared by their real life counterparts, it gives the actors something else to work with in what could otherwise be stagnant roles.
I saw the film in 3D, and like many 3D films, the 3D process (as well as the 3D glasses) dims the film slightly, which for brightly lit films such as Avatar or Alice in Wonderland isn’t’ a problem. However, much of The Finest Hours takes place inside of the oil tanker, or on open water at night, so this is a detriment. The 3D gives the film some nice depth, and there are a few scenes where the 3D really stands out, but over all, I’d say skip the 3D experience.
There are some genuinely thrilling moments in the film, and it really is a spectacular story. However, the film suffers from predictability, and the climax is a bit heavy handed. That’s to be expected from a film of this type, but it could have been toned down just a touch. If we’re to believe what we’re told, the events of that night actually unfolded like a Hollywood script. That said, the film plays out like an old propaganda film for the Coast Guard. It’s pretty much what you’d expect out of a disaster movie produced by Disney.
Director Craig Gillespie (Lars and the Real Girl, 2011’s Fright Night, Million Dollar Arm) and writers Eric Johnson, Scott Silver, and Paul Tamasy have produced a well crafted and thrilling film, but it suffers from predictability and bit of heavy handedness. It’s a movie that’s worth seeing, and given the scope of the film, I’d say it’s probably best to see it in theaters. It’s not a perfect film, but there are worse ways to spend a couple of hours.