Review of In the Heart of the Sea (2015) by Evan L — 03 Jan 2016

I heard really awful things about In The Heart of the Sea. I was originally excited for it, as the trailers were exiting and I really like Ron Howard as a director, but the reviews and buzz around this movie pretty much lowered my expectations. Well, surprisingly, I really enjoyed In The Heart of the Sea!

The acting, though not overly impressive, worked quite well for the film. Chris Hemsworth is very likeable and plays his character well. His accent is a little off, though. The supporting cast is fine, but the standouts are Brendan Gleeson and Tom Holland, who give layered and emotional performances.

Unlike many critics, I was invested in the story that Ron Howard presented here. It didn't contain as much of the whale attack as I would have liked, but I was never bored and was always interested in what was going on. Howard's direction was great, using some very unique techniques. and the dialogue was often very effective. I also loved the cinematography and musical score.

The effects and CGI were so-so. Some shots were amazing and completely gorgeous. However, others were clearly green-screen. This took me out of the movie at times. There were also some very mediocre scenes with wooden acting and bizarre dialogue.

Overall, I don't completely understand the hate for In The Heart of the Sea. It contains good acting, a very interesting story and fantastic direction. See it!

RATING: 8/10.