Deepwater Horizon owes a little bit of debt to The Towering Inferno. Despite its “based on a true story” label, much of the film is structured like an old school disaster movie. Not in the same vein of a disaster film like Twister, but more of a character driven endeavor like Inferno. The disaster is more of a backdrop in the film and it’s intensified because we become connected to those involved. I walked in not expecting much from Deepwater Horizon but left the experience pleasantly surprised by the final product.
Our main character is Mike Williams (Mark Wahlberg), a veteran worker who has just arrived on Deepwater Horizon for another tour of duty. He barely has had time to change into his work clothes when the rig’s boss, Jimmy Harrell (Kurt Russell), is ordering tests over the objections of BP exec, Donald Vidrine (John Malkovich). The Transocean employees who run the rig, including Andrea Fleytas (Gina Rodriguez), Caleb Holloway (Dylan O’Brien), and Jason Anderson (Ethan Suplee), are very concerned by some of the readings and indications they’re getting, but the BP guys, more concerned about the project being 43 days behind schedule than the red-zone pressure indications, force them to forge ahead. Then, as Mike is skyping with his wife (Kate Hudson) and Jimmy is taking a shower, everything goes horribly wrong.
More so than the disaster itself, I was enthralled by the setup for the events ahead. Director Peter Berg does an exceptional job escalating the tension but also allowing us to really get invested in the characters. He’s aware that when disaster strikes we need to care about the people involved so that the film isn’t just an endless barrage of action scenes with no substance. The latter half of the movie is all fire and chaos and while it doesn’t work as well as the setup, it still hits the right notes because we’re immersed in the situation at that point.
Deepwater Horizon is the second film this month to tackle a ripped from the headlines story. Much like Sully, we have a basic idea of the story because of what we’ve heard on the news but it doesn’t make the movie any less interesting. You’ll find yourself wanting to know even more about the events and I certainly came out of the film wanting to learn about anything the film may have glanced over.
In the case of most disaster films, it’s not enough for the disaster to be the villain. There has to be a person (or persons) to oppose the protagonist. In Deepwater Horizon, John Malkovich fills this role and there is a historical reason for the demonization of BP. Although by no means solely at fault for what happened, BP assumed the lion’s share of the responsibility after making safety a secondary concern to profit. Malkovich plays the role with absolute relish and his absence is felt once he’s off screen (he’s largely missing from the second half of the movie).
Mark Wahlberg is perfect for this kind of role. It’s not an insanely deep performance but he’s likable and displays a level of heroism that makes you root for him. Kurt Russell, also always reliable in anything he appears in, gives a solid supporting performance and also of note is that this is the first time he’s appeared in a film with his adopted daughter, Kate Hudson. She has the rather thankless role of the wife who has to look consistently distressed but is also a welcomed presence in the film.
The reconstruction (and eventual destruction) of the rig is intense and the special effects are authentic enough that overdone computer generated imagery isn’t necessary. A lot of the explosions and fires are real and because Peter Berg makes this a more intimate affair, we are invested in the survival of the characters as this real life disaster unfolds around them. Deepwater Horizon doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but by paying a bit of homage to the greats that came before it, the film works a lot better than most in the genre.
Reel Talk gives Deepwater Horizon 3 Reels
