Review of The Finest Hours (2016) by Sonia A — 08 Mar 2016

Based on an event that would be entirely unbelievable if only it weren't true, this survival-at-sea drama has an unpretentious, old school charm that wears its heart on its sleeve and its optimism as a badge of honour.

When an oil tanker splits in half during a raging storm, Casey Affleck's chief engineer Ray employs ingenuity and nerves of steel to lead the remaining men - all of whom are stereotypes yet not mere caricatures - through an impossible situation.

Meanwhile Chris Pine's by-the-book Bernie, a Coast Guard who has recently tasted failure in his line of work, must overcome personal adversity and harsh conditions in his rescue attempt undertaken in a small boat with a crew of only four.

These two intersecting stories are thrilling, interesting and affecting enough to carry the film, so it's a damn shame a third of the runtime (including a slightly too-cheesy ending) is given to the town folk nervously waiting to see if their loved ones will make it home.

Every time it abandons the ocean-set exploits in favour of checking in on the families - in particular Bernie's infuriatingly naïve and misguided girlfriend Miriam (Holliday Grainger) - the suspense is undercut and the momentum is stifled.

Huge credit must be given to the production designers and visual-effects artists though, the multi-layered set of the (slowly) sinking ship's engine room is epic and immersive, whilst the wide shots seemingly composed entirely of CGI are convincing and seamless.

The Finest Hours is far from perfect, but it's a refreshingly simple family-friendly tale with a pleasant, old-fashioned approach to storytelling that celebrates the human spirit without a hint of irony.