Review of In the Heart of the Sea (2015) by Thequietgamer — 11 May 2016

It's a good, true story. However one that's enjoyable elements are strictly tied/limited to the whale(s). The other stuff which includes tension between the captain and first mate, Herman Melville interviewing the last survivor of the disaster, and some character moments all fall short. They aren't enough to sink the ship, but they do make for less than smooth sailing.

It's hard to get into at first. I didn't care about the characters so when much of the film's opening consists of introducing us to these characters it's hard for the mind to not wander. Then the first whale shows up and things turn around. The characters themselves still aren't interesting, but their adventure begins to find some life. We get a fascinating look at whaling and some visually stunning creatures. The ocean and the whales that call it home are gorgeous here. It's that visual splendor and hardships the crew suffers because of them that carries the film back to port, even if worse for wear.

We have seen these survival elements before, so there is a sense of familiarity to it all. However that doesn't make the depiction of being stranded at see any less harrowing, especially with a gorgeous, massive whale making things harder for them at every turn.

It's a beautiful and occasionally boring survival story. One that never quite gets any morals out there. However the whales bring a dose of life to the film to keep in from being dragged to the depths of Davy Jones' Locker. The fact that it's a true story also helps. For land lovers this isn't going to be the cruise ship you're looking for, but for those with a love for the sea it's worth setting out to sea. Even if it's little better than a rowboat at times.

6.