The Perfect Storm (2000)

3 out of 4

Starring: George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, Diane Lane, John C Reilly, William Fichtner, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, John Hawkes, Allen Payne, Michael Ironside

Director: Wolfgang Petersen

Time: 129 mins

Out of all the (North American) summer movies released so far this year, The Perfect Storm is probably the closest to being the traditional thrill ride film. While not the superbly paced, action-all-the-way classic that a film like Die Hard (the supreme popcorn blockbuster) is, The Perfect Storm does deliver non-stop seafaring action once the weather takes a turn for the nasty. The special effects are excellent (if you thought the tidal wave at the end of Deep Impact was impressive, wait till you see the monsters in this film!), and the drama effective. It helps if you don't know the outcome of the story the movie is based on, for it lends a bit more tension than it otherwise would have. It's also good to see a maritime-themed film again, one that reminds you of salt, seagulls, and wooden piers. A film that evoked such images was Jaws, and we know how successful that was in the summer of '75. The Perfect Storm never quite delivers the big thrills, but there are enough minor tense moments and some good performances to keep this film afloat.

The film is based on the true story about the events during a super storm system that developed when a hurricane, a cold front, and a low pressure system converged in the Atlantic Ocean during 1991. Six men from the harbour fishing town of Gloucester, Massachusetts head out on their boat, the Andrea Gail, to catch swordfish. The crew includes Billy Tyne (George Clooney), the skipper, Bobby Shatford (Mark Wahlberg), the rookie, Bugsy (John Hawkes), Sully (William Fichtner), Murph (John C Reilly) and Alfred Pierre (Allen Payne). Fishing is their livelihood: as Bobby says, simply but succinctly, "I love to fish." Driven by their work and the need to make a bit more money, these men travel further into the Atlantic than they usually do to find the elusive swordfish. Back on the mainland, their loved ones, including Cristina (Diane Lane), worry constantly about their safety. Their fears are justified when the storm starts brewing near where the Andrea Gail has gone.

While the bulk of the film concerns the Andrea Gail and the fishermen, there is also a parallel story detailing the rescue of a stranded sailboat and its three passengers cruising near Bermuda. The US Coast Guard, themselves, find the storm a very formidable opponent, as one of their rescue helicopters runs out of fuel and the crew have to jump into the fierce winds and swirling sea. The huge waves rendered by Industrial Light and Magic are a sight to behold, astonishing and ferocious in their intensity, and something to fear. There is always a concern that a movie with a large amount of visual effects will have little plot and one-dimensional characters, but there's nothing to worry about in The Perfect Storm. For one, being a true story (with a little artistic embellishment here and there), there is little need to create hokey drama (though there's a bit of interaction between two of the Andrea Gail's crew that seems a little forced) other than this monumental battle against nature. Secondly, director Petersen, known for crafting diverse thrillers such as In The Line Of Fire, Air Force One, and Outbreak, invests the film's first half hour with enough character building and relationships to make the drama real, and touching. These are real men and women, with real world hardships, both personal and financial. They love their families, the sea and especially their fishing. They know of the potential dangers every time they head out, but ultimately the need for money drives them to do it one more time.

When the storm raises its head, there are plenty of hair-raising moments, but with half the ocean scenes devoted to the US Coast Guard and the ailing sailboat (where the characters are not as well-developed), the excitement is slightly muted. Yes, the action is taut and gripping, but there's not the same emotional attachment with this second group of people. Another minor minus is that, even in the height of the storm's onslaught, Clooney and his crew still seem a bit too cocky when their boat could be ripped apart by the waves any moment. But, then again, not being a hardened fisherman myself, who's to say what they feel out in the middle of the ocean, when they face the sea's fury every day? Salutes to these brave souls.

As for the acting, the cast is uniformly good, though no one stands out. This is probably as it should be. While sometimes real characters are larger than life (eg., Larry Flynt), the men and women of Gloucester are earnest small-town folk, going about their jobs, having a few drinks, and caring for their families. Clooney, as the headline star, does a very good job as the driven Billy Tyne. Beset by recent low hauls, he urges his men to go out again. Billy promises them fish, and, goddammit, they're going to find fish! This is probably the best role I've seen Clooney in. While he was good in Three Kings, Out of Sight and, to a lesser extent, The Peacemaker, the brash, self-confident characters he played in those films were pretty much indistinguishable. Here he is still fairly cocky, but a bit more low-key. The brief glimpses we see of his daughters (through a photo) add a further dimension to his character.

Former rap star Mark Wahlberg continues on his fine work from Three Kings. His previous roles have been inconsistent (from Boogie Nights' innocent young porn star to The Big Hit's none-too-smart assassin and the bland partner cop in The Corruptor), but here he excels as Clooney's right-hand man. His relationship with Diane Lane is well-portrayed, never reaching the emotional excesses that a fictional tale might have tried to extract. The other members of the crew are appropriately gruff and salty, with reliable Fichtner looking quite different from his recent roles in Contact and Go. There is also a rare big-movie role (and a welcome surprise it is, too) for Karen Allen. While never a top-line star, many people will remember her as Marion from Raiders of the Lost Ark. I'm a bit more concerned about Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio (who plays a rival boat captain), though. In the leading lights after her roles in James Cameron's The Abyss (1989) and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991), she is now relegated to the part of the opening credits where it says, "And so-and-so (insert relatively famous actor's name)." I don't know the significance of that, but isn't the "And" part usually reserved for veteran actors or those making a comeback? Hmmm.

Wolfgang Petersen rose to fame with another waterlogged film, the submarine thriller Das Boot. He certainly knows how to create excitement and intensity, and The Perfect Storm is a pretty good example of his skills. Backed by superior special effects, a true story, real characters, and non-stop action once the storm hits, it will keep you entertained for the whole of its 2 hours plus. Recommended for those who like a good seafaring adventure.

(c) Joe Wong (30 June 2000)