In the heartbreaking scene in “Adrift” weary sun-ravaged Tammy, played by Shailene Woodley, awakes next to wounded lover Richard, played by Sam Clafin, on their wrecked sailboat in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Tammy cries out loud, “Oh my… We’re gonna die!” Shailene is so vulnerable, so powerful as Tammy in her impossible journey home. She owns this movie. She compels all of us to watch in awe.
Director Baltasar Kormakur’s “Adrift,” tells the tragic true story of Tammy and Richard’s sailing voyage from Tahiti to San Diego during Hurricane Raymond in 1983. “Adrift” is based on the book by Tammy Ashcraft, the Tammy in the movie. Aaron Kandall, Jordan Kandell, and David Branson Smith wrote the harrowing screenplay based on her book.
Shailene is awesome. I’ve been a fan since “The Descendants” and “The Fault in Our Stars”. As Tammy she is frightened and fierce, her emotions are raw, to the bone. “Adrift” is predictable in the sense that it’s the true story, with the known outcome. Yet, the eloquent narrative twist got me. It landed. Outcome aside, Shailene boldly portrays Tammy’s transformation of greater.
No. What doesn’t kill you, doesn’t make you stronger. Love makes you stronger. Really. Weakened Richard reminds Tammy, “You can do anything you put your mind to.” Have faith within.
As the movie opens 23-year-old Tammy arrives in Tahiti with no particular plans, other than work and to get by. She works maintenance at the local dock. Tammy’s passion is sailing, for the open seas. She really has no one in her life. Her Mom had her when she was 14 years old and was virtually raised by her Grandparents. Her Dad was kind to her, whenever he visited a town until that stopped. Seems the sea embodied Tammy’s own personal freedom.
Tammy meets rogue sailing Richard, who sails the ocean without any clear purpose in mind after graduating from the London Royal Navy Academy. Tammy and Richard discover each other as soulmates.
Here Director Kormakur falters a tad, the romance blossoms as rather canny. Gratefully, Shailene and Sam infuse their courtship with awkward charm and a humorous sense of wonder. Tammy and Richard fall in love. We see their touching screen chemistry swimming in the isolated cove or dancing at the local dive bar.
Richard’s friends Peter and Christine, played by generous Jeffrey Thomas and Elizabeth Hawthorne, ask Richard as a favor to sail their yacht back to San Diego. They have to fly home from Tahiti, because of a family crisis. Richard and Tammy agree.
On the voyage to San Diego, Tammy and Richard sail into the eye of the category 5 Hurricane Raymond. The storm nearly demolishes the boat leaving them “Adrift” in the middle of the Pacific, thousands of miles from land. The movie opens as Tammy arises from the flooded cabin searching for Richard. It’s on.
The nightmare perpetuates under the glaring sun, with little food and drinkable water. Shailene’s Tammy valiantly endures. At the touching narrative arc, Tammy says, “I love you…” Love makes you strong. It keeps you going. Love makes you endure all the bad in hope of the new day. “Adrift” is about the love the keeps us all alive, that keeps us strong.
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Originally published on IMBD
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