The Finest Hours tell the amazing true story of how some men fought against a harsh storm and saved a ton of lives
There have been some incidents that have happened in our recent history that may sound crazy but they have actually happened. Some of these stories are so interesting they get made into films like The Walk, Everest and Bridge of Spies. Each of these movies share some common traits. They are all based on real events and usually have a dramatic tone to them. The Finest Hours follows this pattern and tells a story that will take your breath away.
In 1952 off the coast of Cape Cod lived a man by the name of Bernard Webber (Chris Pine). He lives a simple life and works for the Coast Guard. He works most of the time and his life seems to become complete once a woman named Miriam (Holliday Grainger) enters his life. One day a call comes in about two oil tankers that have been greatly harmed by the winter storm and winds. His boss Chief Warrant Officer Daniel Cluff (Eric Bana) orders Bernard to assemble a small crew to go out there and try to save as much of the crew as he possibly can. It sounds like a suicide mission and there is plenty of fear that with the harsh waves they may not make it out there and the chance of saving those people is slim at best. With the crew of the SS Pendleton running of out options they have to find a way to survive long enough to be rescued before it is too late. How will this oil tanker crew come together to combat such bleak odds? Will Bernard and his small crew be able to get to them in time? And what dangerous weather conditions will they meet along the way?
This was a good drama. It tells an amazing story of how a few men beat all the odds, took a number of big risks but it all paid off in the end. The cast does a great job of bringing this story to life especially Casey Affleck. Right from the beginning when things get bad his character never loses hope and is always willing to think of something to make sure his men are going to survive this awful ordeal. Chris Pine also plays a man who is unsure of how he is going to save these people but again he never gives up hope no matter how tough things may get along the way. The soundtrack is wonderful and many of the songs fit in this era perfectly will is sure to take some viewers back to a simpler time. The sets are wonderful and never come off as too lavish or ridiculous and instead help make for a much better movie. Overall it is a good film that many people will want to see.
This movie gets 7/10. It is a movie that has done its homework and made sure to do its best to tell bring this tale to life. It will not be a movie for everyone but it is not meant to be. It fits better into the older generations and some younger adults will really like this movie. There are a few slow moments in the narrative and not the whole cast really helps this picture much. Eric Bana is underused here and even though his character is supposed to be a villain he comes off as too rough around the edges and his portrayal is not entirely believable to me. It is not a terrible movie but it is in no way going to be amazing either.
If you enjoy a good drama this is a movie you should see. If you want to learn about an incredible moment in history then this is a film you could really like. The Finest Hours comes out today.
Watch the astounding trailer here: