Review of Deepwater Horizon (2016) by Matt G — 06 Oct 2016

Deepwater Horizon can seem like a "rah-rah humanity" movie whose ceiling of quality is "pretty good", and more likely just a forgettable thriller-drama. Imagine my surprise when that it's not only good, but actually kinda great. Combining the harrowing real-life thrills of the sinking boat in Titanic with the humanity and tone of Captain Phillips, this is the one of the best American heroism story in years. With enveloping dialogue, likable characters and heart-pounding scares, DH hits all its targets with concrete precision.

Shot in a steady cinema-verite style, the story of the oil-slick disaster that lead to the 2010 BP spill is one that greatly benefits from slam-cuts, handheld shooting and sweeping aerials. At times, this almost POV cinematography creates some confusion, but usually it just places us within an effectively disorienting state surrounded by explosions, hysteria, and screaming.

What makes the intensity work is the characters. We care about them because of their relationships to each other. Wahlberg gives an unpretentiously solid performance at the center, Russell stands affably strong throughout, Rodriguez continues her deserving ascent to superstardom (checkout CW's "Jane the Virgin"), and Hudson is better than ever in a heartbreakingly authentic role. Her line reading of "Not now, baby" is an emotional gut-punch.

As a citizen on the Gulf Coast, it's impossible not to feel this story more intensely. This may explain why it's not too big of a problem that every white-collar BP man is portrayed so one-dimensionally...although it wasn't great, and Malkovich's Cajun accent was almost the death of me. However, this story-we-don't-know-behind-the-headlines-we-do adventure is such a well-oiled, character-based thrill ride, it's hard not be engulfed.