THE FINEST HOURS (2016)

[ulthar]

I really liked it.  Good movie; good story.

Recommend it.

The film is based on the true story of an incredible sea rescue from the 1950's and does a surprisingly good job of sticking with the true history.  This rescue remains one of the most daring and incredible rescues in USCG history.  If you want some examples of other amazing rescues (some that formally pre-date the Coast Guard), check out the book "Graveyard of the Atlantic: Shipwrecks of the North Carolina Coast" by David Stick.

Back to the film.  It REALLY ticks me off that someone makes a 'based on true story' movie that mostly sticks to the facts (moreso than most Hollywood 'creations') and it gets negativity from critics for not being "exciting" enough.  Jerks.

Real life *IS* exciting and should never compare unfavorably to FICTION.

Geez.  Thanks Michael Bay.  These days we've reached the point that "truth" is not exciting enough, even when it involves incredible feats of human endurance, guts and perseverance and...."humanity."

One quibble: The Cluff character (Eric Bana) was probably not accurately portrayed.  The idea that he was thought "incompetent" by the men in his station is laughable given his record (prior to that station assignment) and the job he was doing during that rescue (coordinating MULTIPLE rescues, not just the two depicted in the film).

I guess the movie needed a "foil" and offered up Cluff.  It was not as egregious as the abominable and grotesque LIES told by Ron Howard's APOLLO 13 regarding Jack Swigert.  I've had the privilege of meeting Sy Liebergot and discussed this with him.  While Sy holds Howard in high esteem and thinks highly of the movie overall, he did acknowledge some details like this were not done so well.

So, THE FINEST HOURS does not do it AS bad as APOLLO 13 did, but it still rankles that they did it at all.  There was no REASON to make Cluff into a 'buffoon' character.  He was instrumental in the final result.  What the movie ALMOST said about him was that would have been the truth was the REASON he was so adamant about sending the men out "across the bar" was that the BELIEVED, firmly, that they could do it.  Cluff was the kind of leader that had tremendous confidence in his men to get the JOB done...he INSPIRED that kind confidence as well.

That's it, though..that's my only lasting quibble with this movie.  Hats off to Chris Pine and all the other actors, director Craig Gillespie and all the production team.  Thank-you for honoring these men, what they accomplished and NOT going "Full Hollywood."

My score: 4.8 out of 5.

[The Burgomaster]

Has anyone made a porn movie called THE FINEST WHORES yet?  If not, it's coming soon . . .

[BoyScoutKevin]

Some good points there, ulthar.

What it did was remind me how much things have changed, since the events in the film happened.

Women
Where once the sea was basically a male prerogative, now you have . . .
. . . at sea in the US Coast Guard
. . . at sea in the US Navy
. . . at sea in every position possible, up to, and including ship's captain.

Safer
While ships now still go to sea and never return. While men and women go to sea and never return. The sea is a much safer place than it was even at the time of the story. And some of the safety is due to the US Coast Guard.

Accents
Where once it was said that a good linguist, could not only tell what city you were from, but . . .?! what precise area of that city you were from, due to your accent. Now with the advances in communication, transportation, and English becoming the "lingua franca" of the civilized world, accents are getting flattened out, till we all sound the same, more or less.

As to why people went to sea . . .
. . . Tradition. Sons and grandsons following their sires and grandsires to the sea.
. . . Prison. For some, better to take a chance at sea, then rot forever in prison.
. . . Money. The pay may not have been that great, but . . .?! An English merchant ship captain, tired of the sea, came on shore and became a minister, and he took a 90% pay cut to do so.
. . . Excitement. The sea may be many things, but . . .?! It is seldom boring.

One of the original crewmembers of the boat shown in the film is still alive. I know because they celebrated his story, with him there, at one of the Company theme parks. Whatever you want to say about the Company, they do a lot for the military. From discounted theme park tickets and cruise line tickets for active military to pushing the hiring of veterans.

As for myself . . .

I really have to start watching more of that genera of sea story, because I had forgotten how much I had underestimated, enjoying the film immensely, that type of genera.