Crimson Tide

Director: Tony Scott

Year: 1995

Running Time: 116 Minutes

Rated: M

Genre: Action, Drama

Plot

When a Russian Rebel Army lead by an unstable dictator take control of a nuclear facility, the United States deploy a nuclear class submarine, to retaliate if any missiles are launched from the facility.

One board is Capt. Frank Ramsey, one of the few sub commanders left with combat experience.

And Lt. Commander Ron Hunter who is a last minute replacement due to the previous Lt. Commander succumbing to illness. Both men have different methods of management and clash when orders are given to launch their missile against the Russian target.

My Thoughts

The plot is simple and easy to follow. It does a great job of building up the tension and making you feel as if you an inside the sub deep beneath the ocean amerced in all the drama.

What I really love about films like this one is the attention to detail. You can tell a great deal of effort has been put in to make it authentic as possible. Even the vocabulary is sounds very authentic. It’s not just straight military talk; they give nick names to certain things, such referring to ICBMs (Inter Continental Ballistic Missile) as ‘Birds’.

Gene Hackmen’s performance is magnificent and at times terrifying as the no-nonsense old school Capt. Frank Ramsey. Denzel Washington gives an excellent and very intense performance as

Lt. Commander Ron Hunter. Performances from the supporting cast are solid particularly from Viggo Mortensen and James Gandolfini, know to most these days as Tony from the hit HBO series

The Sopranos.

The music is that same music you’re heard in almost every Jerry Bruckheimer film from the mid to late 90’s. I’m sure you know what I’m talking about.

Overall this is an edge of thrill ride with great action and plenty of suspenseful moments that are well executed.