A recounting of a New England whaling ship's sinking by a giant whale in 1820, an experience that later inspired the great novel Moby-Dick.
Director: Ron Howard
Writers: Charles Leavitt (screenplay), Charles Leavitt (story), 3 more credits »
Stars: Chris Hemsworth, Cillian Murphy, Brendan Gleeson | See full cast and crew »
Storyline
In the winter of 1820, the New England whaling ship Essex was assaulted
by something no one could believe: a whale of mammoth size and will, and
an almost human sense of vengeance. The real-life maritime disaster
would inspire Herman Melville's Moby-Dick. But that told only half the
story. "In the Heart of the Sea" reveals the encounter's harrowing
aftermath, as the ship's surviving crew is pushed to their limits and
forced to do the unthinkable to stay alive. Braving storms, starvation,
panic and despair, the men will call into question their deepest
beliefs, from the value of their lives to the morality of their trade,
as their captain searches for direction on the open sea and his first
mate still seeks to bring the great whale down.
Movies Reviews
Technically Proficient But Super Flat
Heart of the Sea is a
mass-produced still-life painting: technically proficient but as flat as
the canvas it's on. Technically, it's fine; the cinematography is
interesting, the actors hit their marks, the sound is on point. But
other than a few moments of nice humor and mild sea-faring thrills, the
film lacks any spark. It's like director Howard and co. weren't that
interested in creating an emotional, cerebral or exciting film, but more
focused on simply getting the job done. The story of 19th century
whaler Owen Chase (played by an oddly-accented Hemsworth), the influence
for the literary classic Moby Dick, is a story worth knowing. However,
the giant scale and obsession inherent in this tale is never fully
conveyed, as Howard opts for computers and green screens, in lieu of the
actual sea, to tell his story. So instead of a propulsive thriller or
even a thoughtful psychological study, we get a generic and forgettable
action/adventure, couched in boring characters. And much like the crew
of the Essex itself, we are stranded in a seemingly endless sea of
lackluster storytelling It also features some of the worst cinematic
framing ever. Instead of just filming Moby Dick itself or just the story
of real-life Owen Chase, they opt for a messy mash-up, constantly
cutting away from the Essex's voyage to a recounting of the story to
Melville; like bad narration taken to the nth degree. Even some
marginally compelling moments showing the survival instincts of
desperate people can't save this sinking ship. Watch Jaws, All is Lost,
or Master and Commander if you want to take a worthwhile trip to the
h
