Review of Phantom (2013) by Amanda G — 15 Jun 2013

Phantom is about a Soviet submarine captain trying to prevent his submarine to be used to start a nuclear war. The submarine was fitted with a prototype of a ?cloaking? technology that would render it ?invisible? as it delivered a nuclear payload. Since no Soviet vessels could be detected in the waters the USA would therefore blame the Chinese and begin an all out nuclear war. This story is VERY loosely based upon the 1968 K-129 Crisis. This is a good film, starring Ed Harris as Captain Zubov, David Duchovney and David Fichtner. It doesn?t have the action or dynamics of Das Boot or Hunt for the Red October. However, Ed Harris delivers a thoughtful and memorable performance that carried the film and along with Fichtner as his loyal comrade and first mate and Duchovney playing the plotter and mastermind of the operation. This movie has been unfairly attacked as boring, and with a lousy ending.

First, we all know all out nuclear war DID NOT break out. So, it is a foregone conclusion that the plan will be thwarted. So, of course the ending of the film will not be like a Spielberg film. Next, there aren?t any wonky Russian accents that are like Boris and Natasha from Bullwinkle and no English accents either like in a BBC miniseries. I thought it was great to see Duchovney play a villain and he does so in a determined and lucid manner, yet when necessary he lashes out with sociopathic alacrity. Fichtner who often plays villains or unsavory characters is against type here also. He is loyal and trustworthy. I would say this performance kept this movie together and Fichtner was a total rescue to this film. Without him this whole film would have fallen flat. This movie is already the number one most downloaded movie all across SE Asia right now. It is also enjoying lots of demand on cable TV services. I think this movie will have a second life and will be given a better chance in those formats along with DVD sales and rentals.