K-19: The Widowmaker (2002)
Director: Kathryn Bigelow
Starring: Harrison Ford, Liam Neeson, Peter Sarsgaard
Synopsis:
The Soviet Union hastily sends its first nuclear-powered submarine to sea trials, but design flaws and shoddy workmanship could not only doom the craft but trigger a war.
Impressions:
I can remember this film catching flak when its was released for its fast and loose treatment of the facts (but the filmmakers had the decency to only bill this as "inspired by a true story", which is accurate enough) and the lack of actual Russians in this film about a Soviet sub. Of the cast, only Harrison Ford really attempts a Russian accent. It's not great, but I'll give him credit for at least giving it a stab. If you can set all that aside, it's actually a pretty good movie with strong character dynamics and a good sense of tension throughout. Naturally, Harrison Ford and Liam Neeson are strong, but the supporting cast pull their weight pretty well too. The sets and costuming are quite good, but I'd only rate the CG as passable (though we are only talking '02). While I wouldn't give it a full-throated recommendation, I'd still say it's worth a watch.
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