The Finest Hours

There are films based on true stories and then there's "The Finest Hours". What makes this a bit more incredible is the fact that this is so amazing that it just doesn't seem to be based on anything but a writer's imagination. Such as, unlike "The Poseidon Adventure" which is pure fiction, this is not, and this is what moves its audience to be glued to the screen.

In February of 1952, one of the worst storms ever to hit the East Coast struck New England, damaging a T2 oil tanker off the coast of Cape Cod and literally ripping it in half. On a small boat, faced with frigid temperatures and 70-foot high waves, four members including Bernie Webber (Chris Pine), Richard Livesey (Ben Foster) and others of the Coast Guard set out to rescue the more than 30 stranded sailors including Ray Sybert (Casey Affleck), Wallace Quirey (John Ortiz) and Frank Fauteaux (Graham McTavish) trapped aboard the rapidly- sinking half vessel. With Bernie's fiancé Miriam (Holliday Grainger) at home fretting and eventually confronting Bernie's commanding officer, Daniel Cluff (Eric Bana) to 'bring him back home', this film is as compelling as it is exciting.

Others to round out the cast are Kyle Gallner as Andy Fitzgerald, John Magaro as Ervin Maske, Michael Raymond-James as D.A. Brown, Beau Knapp as Mel Gouthro, Josh Stewart as Tchuda Southerland, Abraham Benrubi as George 'Tiny' Myers, Keiynan Lonsdale as Eldon Hanan and Rachel Brosnahan as Bea Hanson.

This was cleverly directed by Craig Gillespie ("Mr. Woodcock" '07, "Lars and the Real Girl" '07, "Fright Night" '11, "Trooper" (TV movie) '13, "Million Dollar Arm" '14), in that this filmmaker if like a chameleon if his resume says anything. He can create an atmosphere as quirky and over-the-top as "Lars and the Real Girl", and convince us that these guys in this film are in extreme peril and anywhere in between and do it with relative ease. This was well written by Scott Silver, Paul Tamasy and Eric Johnson, and since these three writers also wrote "The Fighter" '10, then I can certainly see why they would want to collaborate again, considering the quality of "The Fighter". Plus between these guys, there is definitely more experience which would allow anyone to realize that this would be written with the quality they would expect. This followed well, was cohesive, and gave its audience what they wanted: to sit on the edge of their seats while biting their nails down to the nub. The visual effects predominantly created by MPC (Moving Picture Company) and Mr. X, Inc. were absolutely seamless. The New England dialects by Pine, Grainger and others were amazing and gave the story that much more credibility.

Certainly if you have plans to see this film, get to the theater, because it will lose everything on a DVD format. This has suspense, drama, high-adrenaline and tons of action all in a great IMAX and 3D format. This is one roller coaster ride you will not soon forget.

Out of 4 Stars: 4                                      Rated: PG-13                                     117mins.