Review of Black Sea (2009) by Preston L — 03 Sep 2015

Black Sea is the story of a Scottish Deep Sea Scavenger (Jude Law) who enlists a group of men to go after a presumed gold sum in a sunken German U-Boat. The group is split with 6 men from the U.K. and 6 men from Russia. The tension between the two groups begins almost immediately due to lack of communication, lack of respect, and lack of space apart. As the tensions grow along with deep sea danger the film begins to get interesting.

Things I Liked:

Jude Law. Jude Law is so good in this film. He's also completely different from every other thing I've ever seen him in. He's not piercingly handsome, not suave, not even English for that matter. He walks a fantastic line where you can't tell how in control of both himself and the situation he is, at times convincing you he too has succumbed to the cabin fever and is endangering his crewmen, and then moments later making a completely rational decision. It carries the film and shows how Jude Law is really coming into middle age with no loss of talent.

The Tension. This film gets tense the moment they close the hatch on the submarine and dive under the ocean. It draws you forward to the edge of your seat and doesn't let you go until the final few frames of the movie. It's tense as hell, which is what makes it a good thriller.

The Cinematography. The way the film is shot makes it work unbelievably well. It has a lot of tension among the submarine crew and you feel they cramped quarters. You realize how little space they have within the vessel and you get the feeling that they are trapped there. The way the film is shot is so tight and so confined that your truly feel there is no extra wiggle room in the sub. It only aids the story and the tension that story builds.

Things I Didn't Like:

The Length. The film feels a little long. There is one too many complications and the film seems to drag through them at points. This sometimes works with aiding the tension but often if just makes you check your watch and want to skip to the next chapter.

Overall. The film feels a little long in points but it has a group of strong performances led by Jude Law. The story is simple yet intriguing. The camera work makes you feel as confined as the men on the submarine and the tension between them and the situation is present throughout. The film works well and it is only in the last moment that if finally allows you to breath.