Rating: 8/10
Review date: May 2, 2002
This movie doesn’t have a very appealing title but believe me, it’s still a damn good movie nevertheless. This movie is set during WWII where a German U-boat was damaged by an Allied destroyer so it has to wait for a re-supply submarine. The Americans got wind of this and decided to send a submarine to board the damaged Axis U-boat and steal the Enigma code machine which can turn the tide of the Battle of the Atlantic.
The most notable actor in here is Matthew McConaughey who stars as Lt. Andrew Tyler who led the Americans to board the German U-boat. He totally convinces me throughout the movie as someone who is fit to be a leader and his face expressions are always good. Harvey Keitel as Chief Klough also fits his role really well as a man with a lot of experience with the navy. One other person to note is the singer and actor Jon Bon Jovi who sports a good performance as Lt. Pete Emmett. The entire cast aside from the three just mentioned performed their parts really well, successfully giving the audience impression that they know how to operate a submarine.
Aside from the characters, the movie also provides a lot of edge-of your-seat moments where I actually find myself holding my breath when the Americans were on a “torpedo duel” with a German U-boat. There were plenty of underwater explosions and a really nice big one (although this one is not underwater) at the end of the movie.
Most of U-571 was shot in the tiny and cramped space inside a submarine but praise should go to director Jonathan Mostow for all the tensions that a claustrophobic setting could generate.
Expect lots of underwater actions in this flick coupled with great acting and great setting from Jonathan Mostow. Just get ready to be thrilled by this movie even if you don’t like submarines or whatever. What matters the most is that the movie achieve its main objective which is to provide lots of actions and tensions to go along with it, not forgetting the entertained feeling that I had when the movie ends.
Memorable quote: “Tank, fire right now or we die!!!”
-Matthew McConaughey as Lt. Andrew Tyler-
(c) 2002 Martin Taidy