DIRECTOR: Craig Gillespie
LEAD
CAST: Chris
Pine, Casey Affleck, Ben Foster, Holliday Grainger, John Ortiz, Eric Bana SCREENWRITER: Eric Johnson, Scott
Silver, Paul Tamasy PRODUCER: Dorothy Aufiero, James Whitaker
EDITOR: Tatiana S. Riegel MUSICAL DIRECTOR: Carter Burwel
GENRE: Biographical
Drama, Action and Adventure, Mystery and Suspense CINEMATOGRAPHER: Javier
Aguierresarobe DISTRIBUTOR: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
LOCATION:
United States RUNNING TIME: 117 minutes
Technical assessment: 3
Moral assessment: 3
CINEMA rating:
PG 13
This film is based on a real life story. The Coast Guard crewman, Bernard Webber (Chris Pine) has fallen in love with switchboard operator, Miriam Pentinen (Holliday Grainger). He is about to
ask permission to get married from their new station’s commander but he is dispatched to rescue the 32 survivors trapped in the oil tanker, SS
Pendleton which has broken in half off the Chatham coast after getting caught
in a massive storm. It is impossible for any rescue boat to pass the lethal
Chatham Bars crashing waves. In obedience to his commander, Weber takes three
men on a lifeboat for the daring rescue mission. When SS Pendleton receives the
message of a forthcoming rescue, chief engineer Ray Sybert (Casey Affleck)organizes a strategy
to keep the tanker’s stern afloat, hoping they’ll be rescued before sinking.
But the rescue boat is tossed by skyscraper waves and loses the compass. Bernie
races against time to make the rescue succeed, to atone for the time he couldn’t
save townsmen stranded in a previous storm.
In totality, The
Finest Hours is a fine movie. It is able to achieve its visual ambitions of
bringing back to life a historical event that happened on a sea. There’s a lot
of creativity and talent invested in the film’s visuals using CGI as well as
real location that shows captivating sceneries and seascapes. The story is
interesting and it presents really compelling characters,w ith actors who are
able to deliver. However, the film lacks necessary focus. Its narrative jumps
from one subplot to another. Perhaps it is drawn to its own broadness so it has
to show three main subplots—Bernie’s impossible mission, Miriam’s worry, and
Ray’s dilemma on his ship. Each plot has its own interesting take on the event,
but put together, there is something missing. Perhaps it lacks the real heart
or maybe, the film is really just focused on the storm and not on the
characters. Whichever, the film could’ve been better if it just focused on one
plot and played everything there. Giving the plots equal weight has made resulted
in sense of vagueness that does not work well for the movie. However, the
film’s visual strength and good acting, makes The Finest Hours a good watch.
The Finest Hours is a story of courage, heroism, faith
and love amidst the storm. Each character has shown concern for every single
life as precious—thus, risking even their own lives to save others. In the
battle of man against nature, only real courage and strong faith would make
them survive. It is also easy to fall into the trap of “ship of fools” given
the gravity and urgency of the situation, but genuine heroism has kept every
character afloat, setting aside pride and differences. The film shows the real
meaning of camaraderie and brotherhood. Miriam, on the other hand is a woman of
strong character. Her steadfast love and faithful heart apparently has been
instrumental in sending message of hope and perseverance to Bernie in the
middle of the sea. Keeping watch every minute, she managed to play a
significant role in the eventual success of the operation. The film really has
shown how the crucial hours that spell disaster and survival have shown the
finest characteristic of a human being—one that cares for others and would
leave self behind for the sake of the common good. They may not have thought of
the reward but they had it anyway for they all lived a full life after the
storm—a grace given to the ones who are faithful.
