Review of White Squall (1996) by David K — 08 Jul 2009

Terrible. This film is entirely character driven and yet, the characters that fill the screen are bland, flat, and simple. There is little to no background given for these "boys" that we're supposed to care so much about. Jeff Bridges plays a captain who is more of a mysterious scolder rather than a bold leader. No, Ridley Scott really missed the boat with "White Squall.".

The film follows some character that Scott Wolf plays. I don't know, I honestly didn't care. Anyway, he has some Daddy issues and is sent away to sail on this boat for a couple months in order to grow up and become a "man." The trouble is that the events that fill this film that supposedly makes these boys into men are completely trivial. They aren't poignant in the least and I found the majority of the film an utter waste of time. Then the white squall came.

With about a half hour to go the drama finally starts in the film. It's brought about by some meteorogical phenomena called a white squall which is basically just some sporadic but large ocean storm. It's a half hour of big sets, actors getting wet, and that's about it. Again, not much here.

The final ten minutes is made up of Jeff Bridges on trial for being "responsible" of the sinking of his ship. Frankly, I didn't care. I didn't care when the characters were crying. I didn't care when the "boys" became "men." I didn't care when revelations were made. I only cared when the credits rolled because it meant this sorry excuse of filmmaking was over. "White Squall" is not worth the investment.