The Finest Hours
Chris Pine (Star Trek), Holliday Grainger (Cinderella) and Ben Foster (Lone Survivor) lead this true disaster story about the 1952 Pendleton Rescue Mission, following the brave coast guards who journeyed out to save the remaining crewmen left on two oil tankers – wrecked and sinking.
- Director:
- Craig Gillespie ('Million Dollar Arm', 'Fright Night', 'Lars and the Real Girl')
- Writer:
- Eric JohnsonCasey ShermanPaul TamasyMichael J. Tougias
- Cast:
- Chris PineCasey AffleckBen FosterHolliday GraingerJohn OrtizEric Bana
Reviews & comments
Variety
pressA perfectly entertaining, sometimes quite well-crafted disaster drama that nonetheless retreats from the memory almost as soon as the credits roll.
The New York Times
pressNever departs from a tried-and-true formula, but that's one of its quaint charms.
Los Angeles Times
pressBefore scoffers scoff, realize that this tale of nautical derring-do has several things going for it to counteract the inherent obviousness of the material.
Hollywood Reporter
pressThe pieces don’t fuse so much as fit together, and much of the action feels instructive rather than immersive.
Entertainment Weekly
pressAn intermittently affecting, sanded-edge adventure that feels as if it trundled off the studio production line back when Eisenhower was in office.
Empire Magazine
pressA strong cast and impressive action sequences can't find subtleties or surprises to enliven a rote period disaster movie. It hits the right points, but mechanically.
As of recent, there have been some excellent movies based on true historical events. The Finest Hours is another that falls into this category. For me this is a chair gripping on the seas drama at its best. A ship is caught in the middle of a storm. the power of the waves has split it in half, Stern from Bow. Without the Bow and the rudder the Stern is...
To be fair I would give this more of a 3 1/2 if that was an option. There are some great visuals, the rescue is very impressive, but they had to Disney it and focus on the love story too much in my opinion. I enjoyed the movie but it probably isn't one I would have gone out of my way to see.
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Facinating true story of heroism, with spot on period treatment. Great cast, but somewhat wasted (especially Ben Foster), and the Disney sweetness undid the tension for me. A solid film, but not one I'd add to the collection.
Like it says in the title: Solid waterbased action, surprisingly engaging, but flounders when on land. Chris Pine is flat throughout (does his scowl mean he's angry, determined, ashamed or scared this time? What about now?). Holliday Grainger is the only good thing about the film when it's on land - she's great, but it's the sea where all the fun is!
Solid cast performances, entertaining, and appears much closer to the facts than most 'Based on a true story' efforts. Very well worth sitting through the credits to see the original photographs etc of the event and crews.
So pure in this version of fifties America that no one smoked, much less swore or cussed when things turned to custard. Setting aside the romantic subplot (barf material), the film's finest moments are generated by the atmosphere of tension created inside a stricken oil tanker. Scenes of a coastguard vessel besieged by enormous waves provide some...
Really didn't like this one. When will film companies realise we don't need some lame ass romantic plot line to keep us invested in the film. (The Martian did it right) When the action got tense in the film we cut to a scene of his fiancée towing her car. Woooo
The Finest Hours has a feel of an old school Hollywood Disney disaster film. It is a fast paced, inoffensive, and middle of the road. The Finest Hours is jam packed with action, and is extremely fast paced - the two hour run-time flew by. Unfortunately, the film tried to pack too much in and this was the biggest flaw of this film. Plenty of characters were...
Excellent movie recreation of a 1952 Coastguard rescue. Plenty of tension despite the outcome being unsurprising (given that it's based on a true story). Chris Pine gives a strong performance as the simple small-town boy who becomes the hero of the story (really different than his usual cocky hero roles). Great heartfelt performances from the rest of the...
Enjoyable movie about an epic story. Was a bit slow to start off, particularly with understanding the personality of the lead character, but got better thereon in. Great action packed scenes in the ocean and end to the film. Not sure whether 3D was necessary as it was absent in most of the action, but did add some nice effects at times.
Variety
pressA perfectly entertaining, sometimes quite well-crafted disaster drama that nonetheless retreats from the memory almost as soon as the credits roll.
The New York Times
pressNever departs from a tried-and-true formula, but that's one of its quaint charms.
Los Angeles Times
pressBefore scoffers scoff, realize that this tale of nautical derring-do has several things going for it to counteract the inherent obviousness of the material.
Hollywood Reporter
pressThe pieces don’t fuse so much as fit together, and much of the action feels instructive rather than immersive.
Entertainment Weekly
pressAn intermittently affecting, sanded-edge adventure that feels as if it trundled off the studio production line back when Eisenhower was in office.
Empire Magazine
pressA strong cast and impressive action sequences can't find subtleties or surprises to enliven a rote period disaster movie. It hits the right points, but mechanically.
As of recent, there have been some excellent movies based on true historical events. The Finest Hours is another that falls into this category. For me this is a chair gripping on the seas drama at its best. A ship is caught in the middle of a storm. the power of the waves has split it in half, Stern from Bow. Without the Bow and the rudder the Stern...
To be fair I would give this more of a 3 1/2 if that was an option. There are some great visuals, the rescue is very impressive, but they had to Disney it and focus on the love story too much in my opinion. I enjoyed the movie but it probably isn't one I would have gone out of my way to see.
Facinating true story of heroism, with spot on period treatment. Great cast, but somewhat wasted (especially Ben Foster), and the Disney sweetness undid the tension for me. A solid film, but not one I'd add to the collection.
Like it says in the title: Solid waterbased action, surprisingly engaging, but flounders when on land. Chris Pine is flat throughout (does his scowl mean he's angry, determined, ashamed or scared this time? What about now?). Holliday Grainger is the only good thing about the film when it's on land - she's great, but it's the sea where all the fun is!
Solid cast performances, entertaining, and appears much closer to the facts than most 'Based on a true story' efforts. Very well worth sitting through the credits to see the original photographs etc of the event and crews.
So pure in this version of fifties America that no one smoked, much less swore or cussed when things turned to custard. Setting aside the romantic subplot (barf material), the film's finest moments are generated by the atmosphere of tension created inside a stricken oil tanker. Scenes of a coastguard vessel besieged by enormous waves provide some...
Really didn't like this one. When will film companies realise we don't need some lame ass romantic plot line to keep us invested in the film. (The Martian did it right) When the action got tense in the film we cut to a scene of his fiancée towing her car. Woooo
The Finest Hours has a feel of an old school Hollywood Disney disaster film. It is a fast paced, inoffensive, and middle of the road. The Finest Hours is jam packed with action, and is extremely fast paced - the two hour run-time flew by. Unfortunately, the film tried to pack too much in and this was the biggest flaw of this film. Plenty of characters...
Excellent movie recreation of a 1952 Coastguard rescue. Plenty of tension despite the outcome being unsurprising (given that it's based on a true story). Chris Pine gives a strong performance as the simple small-town boy who becomes the hero of the story (really different than his usual cocky hero roles). Great heartfelt performances from the rest of the...
Enjoyable movie about an epic story. Was a bit slow to start off, particularly with understanding the personality of the lead character, but got better thereon in. Great action packed scenes in the ocean and end to the film. Not sure whether 3D was necessary as it was absent in most of the action, but did add some nice effects at times.
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