Adrift

While films based on true stories are fraught with a story of a tragedy laced with adventure, it would be quite a change to see one of these films based on a wonderful event sometime.

But, until that time comes, the film "Adrift" is in the offing to intrigue us about an horrendous sailing voyage gone awry.

 

This is based on the inspiring true story of two free spirits whose chance encounter leads them first to love, then to the adventure of a lifetime. As the two avid sailors set out on a journey across the ocean, Tami Oldham (Shailene Woodley) and Richard Sharp (Sam Claflin) couldn't anticipate they would be sailing directly into one of the most catastrophic hurricanes in recorded history. In the aftermath of the storm, Tami awakens to find Richard badly injured and their boat in ruins. With no hope for rescue, Tami must find the strength and determination to save herself and the only man she has ever loved. "Adrift" is the unforgettable story about the resilience of the human spirit and the transcendent power of love.

 

Others to round out the cast are Grace Palmer as Deb, Jeffrey Thomas as Peter, Elizabeth Hawthorne as Christine, Tami Ashcraft as Herself and Kael Damlamian as Smiley,

 

This was intensely directed by Baltasar Kormakur ("101 Reykjavik" 2000, "The Sea" '02, "Jar City" '06, "Inhale" '10, "Contraband" '12, "2 Guns" '13, "Everest" '15, "The Oath" '16) plus others and TV. This filmmaker truly knows how to make his characters come alive through his actors by extracting the grit and intensity out of them in order to put life into his characters. If you like his brand of directing, his "The Good Spy" is in pre-production. It was written effectively by Aaron Kandell, Jordan Kandell and David Branson Smith based on a book by Tami Oldham Ashcraft. Although this is written in a series of flashbacks within present time which has been done in previous films, it still was able to create a cascade of intense situations for its leading stars. The way the characters drifted from sorrow to bargaining to depression to getting a second wind and going through this pattern over again was amazingly real and was told to us effectively. Other than a couple of places of slowness and choppiness, this script was concise and delineated well.

 

If the survival film is your cup of tea, this will definitely fit the bill. And with all the big grandiose films out there in the summer season to dig into, it's nice to be able to get caught up with a small film about two very desperate people striving to survive the ultimate sea challenge.

 

Out of 4 Stars: 3.5                                  Rated: PG-13                                  96mins.