Review of The Finest Hours (2016) by Krisstolliday14 — 06 Aug 2016

The Finest Hours tells the tale of four brave members of the coast guard who brave the storm like elements on a small boat to rescue the crew of an fractured oil tanker stranded at sea. This story makes for strong special effects, cgi and cast members shouting into the watery atmosphere and it is within these elements that Craig Gillespie directs his film so well.

For the first half the action scenes stand strong with characters using quick thinking to gain as much time as possible to cling on to. It is unfortunately however that the final half becomes rushed and the early tensions and emotions appear to drown.

Casey Affleck's character spends the first half manufacturing make shift ides to keep the tanker's crew alive however in the second half he is sidelined and barely features. It is actually the rescue itself which fails to feel as tense as it really should do and leaves actors simply standing around.

It needed more near misses, more drama and above all more thrills. The on-shore story also fails to really develop and at times becomes muddled between hinting at a backstory that fails to really get a catharsis.

Where The Finest Hours works is in the early stages and with the simpler A-story, it is just a shame that the pacing in the second half and the lack of depth do let it down. It becomes more of a drama than an action adventure that it was calling out to be.

Chris Pine is very good playing against type and Casey Affleck brings a rather two dimensional character to life, however neither could prevent me finishing the film and feeling unsatisfied and ultimately wanting more.

Other than the main story and the love story other relationships feel unresolved.If only it could have given me that little bit more.