Review of In the Heart of the Sea (2015) by Orlando O — 11 Dec 2015

A rough sailing and a survival story about man facing against nature on their whaling ship as they encounter a sperm whale that is inspired to be Moby Dick. It is another survival story, a crew from the whaling ship facing against storms out on the sea, starvation, and a whale that is fighting back, destroying their ships and their small boats. Ron Howardâ(TM)s direction is a decent one, Howard does not hold back in having tons of exposition and following a redundant storytelling formula by having one of the survivors tell their sea voyage struggle to a writer.

Thomas Nickerson (Brendan Gleeson) tells an emotionally rough story, that has been bothering him for decades to a struggling writer Herman (Ben Whishaw). A story that is set in 1820, about whaling ship Essex that is on the hunt for whales. Owen Chase (Chris Hemsworth) has had plenty of experience in the sea and is expecting to be promoted Captain for that voyage. After a rejection, that George Pollard, Jr. (Benjamin Walker) has been promoted to captain as he is following a family line from taking over the ship. Chase has been positioned as his first mate for the Essex. This builds tension between the two of them, as Chase has been through many voyages compare to George. Chase gets the crew together, a cabin boy Thomas Nickerson (Tom Holland), and second mate Matt (Cillian Murphy). They go on a long hunt for whales, for food supply and oil. Then, the surprise attack from a sperm whale attacks their ship as the crew tries to fend on their boats and fight for their lives against the whale and starvation.

The story is compelling but it is very slow moving and boring at times when it comes to the story telling of seeing Brendan Gleesonâ(TM)s and Ben Whishaw characters. A good chunk of their scenes could have been cut, to progress the story better. The visual effects were great, and the action sequences of the whale attacking the crew of the Essex were thrilling. The feeling of rooting for the whale, as we see it destroying their ship, leaving the crew either dead or stranded, I kind of felt sad for the whales. It is a materialistic world, of needing the oils that lit up their candles and other things, ect. Ron Howard did a well job, in making the action visceral, and a great visuals on the whale. Eventually, the film falls very slow after the crew is stranded in a deserted small island. Chase and Captain George have to set aside their long lasting conflict with each other, in trying to make the best decisions for their crew as they start facing starvation and the desperation of falling into cannibalism. Screenwriter did well in the biographical adventure survival story about men versus men, men versus nature, and a whale that puts these men together to fight for their lives. In the Heart of the Sea is a fair adventure film, it was slow moving, had a great cast, and some exciting thrills.