DEEPWATER HORIZON

In some ways, this film is a study of both the best and basest of human nature – the most base being Vidrine’s greed driving him to take shortcuts that eventually lead to loss of life; the best in Mike’s willingness to go back into danger to help keep the rig afloat, buying the lifeboats more time.

The film is technically brilliant. Where CGI is used for wide shots of the rig, it’s very good. Production value is top-notch. Performances from all major players are as good as they will ever be, particularly from Kurt Russell as Mister Jimmy, who battles on to do his job, despite losing use of an eye and having shower glass explode over him. Gina Rodriguez deserves every award coming her way, as quick-thinking yet terrified Andrea, who’s the only member of the bridge staff to think to go outside and look to see if what their instruments are showing is true.

I can’t fault this film, but I can’t love it either. There’s nothing particularly wrong with it, and I can’t quite put my finger on why it’s not better than it is. Perhaps it’s because until the very end, it’s just a story, and not a very nice or interesting one. There’s no real emotional attachment to any of the people involved; you hate Vidrine, but not passionately, and you respect the riggers... but you’re not invested, and that’s what should have happened.

At the very end, after the film is finished, we’re shown images of the real people involved. The real Mike and Felicia are average, slightly portly Americans. Somehow, showing us the real people both ruins the film as well as suddenly makes it worthwhile. It destroys the illusion, which is both good and bad. We’re sucker-punched with the reality of it, which elicits that required emotional response, but also reminds us that this is Hollywood, and nothing is completely true. When you see the difference between the real people and the actors playing them, you'll understand what I mean.

While the film aims to put a human face on the disaster, emphasising the loss of life and ongoing trauma to the survivors, I feel a film like this with its big names and budget could have spent a bit more time on the deeper underlying cause of the spill – our dependence on fossil fuels and the damage continuing to use them causes. Humanity is at a stage now where we really should be shouting this from the rooftops; ‘Deepwater Horizon’ could have been a tall platform to do this, but the opportunity is let pass by.

But you read these reviews to find out if you should spend your precious time and dosh seeing it. If the subject interests you, yes, definitely see it. If you’re after a Hollywood disaster movie, this will tick a couple boxes, as it certainly borrows heavily from that genre as a film. While I did spend a good deal of time during ‘Deepwater Horizon’ waiting for the point, it’s still a very good film and you may find it moves you.