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U-571 review by Joseph B. Mauceri
REVIEW: U-571 captures a sense of heroism and patriotism that harkens back to the WWII films of the Duke, John Wayne. The screenplay for U-571 is based on a series of actual campaigns the Navy undertook to capture the German Enigma coding device, and code records. The plot quickly pears down the cast to a meager handful of sailors that must face down the enemy and succeed in their mission. Under the direction of Jonathan Mostow, who wrote and directed the 1997 box office hit "Breakdown," U-571 features intense moments that will have you hanging on the edge of your seat. The special effects and the production designs - which include the production designer from "Das Boot" Gotz Weidner - give the film an air of authenticity. The advances in sound technology allow the audience to get a sense of what these sailors experienced as they were bombarded by depth charges. Once the cast fat is trimmed the narrative begins to move. In one of his best performances to date, Harvey Keitel presides over these young mavericks with an authoritative performance that is reminiscent of the legendary Gary Cooper. McConaughey's character development slowly allows him to emerge to the forefront of the narrative. The process provides the actor with a real opportunity to show the dimensions of his acting skills. McConaughey's and Keitel's performance overshadow the rest of the cast. As a result, good characters and performances become stereotypes. There is the farm kid who speaks fluent German, the Brooklyn kid with attitude, the frantic mechanic, and the soft intelligence officer who cracks under pressure. As you probably guessed, U-571's plot is a bit thin, and there isn't anything groundbreaking. The tale is your basic high seas WWII chase, where these ragtag shipmates who must rise above their character flaws and seize the day. Mostow works within the confined space of the submarine and delivers some great camera angles and action sequences. At times, the effects, acting and direction come together and are as compelling as sequences in "The Hunt for the Red October." U-571 is a solid WWII thriller, with cutting-edge special effects and performances that make it cinema worthy. McConaughey and Keitel could possibly end up with Oscar nominations for their performances here. Moreover, Mostow proves he has the hustle and the muscle to fill the shoes of directors like John McTiernan and Renny Harlin. OFFICIAL WEB SITE:
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SYNOPSIS:
WWII high seas thriller based on true stories. Americans learn of
a stranded German submarine. The Navy sends out one of their own
disguised as the German rescue sub. Their goal, to take the German
sub, secure get their Enigma coding machine and sink the sub so
the Germans will not know that we have the device.