Finest Hours Review

Jan 26

Written By Rendy Jones

Preview

PG13: Intense Sequences of Peril

Disney

1 hr and 57 Minutes

Cast: Chris Pine, Casey Affleck, Holiday Grainger, with Ben Foster, and Eric Bana

BACKSTORY: Went to the theater at Union Square to watch a screening of the Finest Hours. It was a short line, but the rows were stupidly divided where the top aisles were all reserved and the bottom. So eventually I went upstairs and sat next to this big black guy who was loud and stank. Nearly every scene of the movie, he and the girl next to him kept talking and several audience members kept going "SHUT UP!" This didn't stop him as he tried to hype the movie up when it kept sucking. So halfway through the film, I got annoyed to a point I noticed a whole section that was taped up for "reserved" that nobody was sitting at which I zoomed to and had a whole row to myself. And there was nothing to annoy me.....except this movie.

STORYLINE: In February of 1952, one of the worst storms to ever hit the East Coast struck New England, damaging an oil tanker off the coast of Cape Cod and literally ripping it in half. On a small lifeboat faced with frigid temperatures and 70-foot high waves, four members of the Coast Guard set out to rescue the more than 30 stranded sailors trapped aboard the rapidly-sinking vessel.

REVIEW: Disney has been on a roll recently with their film slates. With their Marvel movies, Star Wars films, and their animation studios that you think about their releasing of live action movies. Well wait no more, now we got The Finest Hours the most Disneiest rescue film to be released ever. With a film like this and the theme you would expect it to be released by any other studio, but watching this film you see how much 0 to Disney it gets real quick. What disappoints me about this film right here is that there is a huge lack of characterization. It's sad because with every character, not only can't you relate to any one of them, but you don't even like any single character. Chris Pine is spineless, Eric Bana is an asshole, Casey Affleck is Michael Cera in voice level, and Holliday Grainger is just bratty. It's just how much nuisances all of these characters are, which is just excruciating to see how much good heart they try to play in here. This movie has a good heart in mind, but has a very mean spirited way of showing it. It's not only that it's mean spirited, but it's also that it has the tendency of just be awkwardly hysterical when it doesn't need to be. The Finest Hours is an action drama film that when it gets dramatic it just becomes stupid. There is a scene where Grainger stands up to Bana and she just constantly says "call him again" five times while he screams "GET OUT OF MY OFFICE!" and then she just pouts and storms off. If this film had a better writer, then it would've been a great film. The cast does their best, it's just what was written for them is just plain corny. Having said that, the film's bright side is the action and the visual effects of the boat being stranded at sea. The only thing this film has going for it is the rescue sequence and the cinematography. There is a constant distinct blue and icy palette in a lot of scenes in the movie. I mean the film is set during the winter, but even when characters are indoors you see several blue. Other than that this film is just something that should be seen on either TBS or local TNT or FX or even the CW in the afternoon 3 - 4 years from now and you might watch it because you're in the mood, but most of you will just change the channel because of your immediate disinterest.

3D: The 3D in this movie is great with the constant effects of the water and the crew on the boat. The only problem with the 3D is that the film is super dark so at points it feels as if you're not watching anything. The movie uses the 3D for some moments and then the other times it's just unnecessary.

LAST STATEMENT: The Finest Hours prospers from it's great visuals and old fashion style, but the lack of character and tedious running time makes this a Disney disappointment.