Review of In the Heart of the Sea (2015) by Brett B — 15 Dec 2015

IN THE HEART OF THE SEA finds director Ron Howard entering new territory: a period-based nautical adventure, and though some elements of it are curiously workmanlike, the strength of the basic premise and the acting is more than enough to make it worth a look.

I'm a sucker for seafaring tales, as I find them inherently - and immensely - cinematic, so there was naturally plenty for me to enjoy here; the rendering of the early 19th century era is exceptional, and the production design works in tandem with the atmospheric cinematography to give the movie an evocative visual look, one which suggests maritime lore in nearly every frame.

The whale attack scenes are tensely staged, and hit home with a visceral impact that does justice to the incredible true story at the center of the film. Composer Roque Banos (whose score for 2013's EVIL DEAD was one of the best of that year) contributes a frequently haunting score that nicely underlines the the frightening enormity of the situation the movie's whalers find themselves in, while also emphasizing the emotional toll it takes on them; it's great work from Banos.

Also doing great work are pretty much all of the cast members; director Howard has assembled a superb lineup of character actors - young and old - and though the movie has more or less been sold as the "Chris Hemsworth vs.

The Whale Show," in actuality it's far more of an ensemble, with the likes of Gleeson, Walker, Wishaw, Murphy, Holland, and Fairley all bringing human-scale gravitas to the movie. The structure of the screenplay is a touch spotty, which results in some wonky pacing, especially in the third act, but the overall film is a solid and moody drama that, frankly, deserves better than the reception it's so far received.