U-571 (2000)

3 out of 4

Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Bill Paxton, Harvey Keitel, Jon Bon Jovi, Jake Weber

Director: Jonathan Mostow

Time: 116 mins

Submarine movies have always been a goldmine for moviemakers. The claustrophobic environments, the suspense of the sailors trapped in their sardine cans, not knowing what's happening around them, have been great film fodder for several decades. Classics like the German Das Boot (1981), often considered the definitive submarine movie, and more recent American suspense-actioners, The Hunt For Red October (1990) and Crimson Tide (1995), are taut and terrific films, relying as much on nerve-wracking clashes of military firepower as on the psychological clashes between the men in charge, from the enemy and within. The latest sub movie to hit cinema screens, U-571, flows from the same pedigree. While ultimately lacking in characterisation and powerful battles of will, the film contains enough kinetic action sequences and nail-biting moments to cover its less polished aspects. Its release just before the May onslaught of Gladiator, Battlefield Earth, and Mission: Impossible 2 is also a shrewd move, giving action-starved fans an opportunity to part with their dollars for a taste of the blockbusters to come.

U-571 is based on the Allied missions in World War II that sought to recover the Enigma coding machines, the Germans' secret method of communicating with their subs. (The fact that most of these missions were conducted by the British has been glossed over, but no matter.) An ailing German sub detected out in the middle of the Atlantic is suspected of carrying the Enigma machine, and a US sub is sent to retrieve it. The crew includes Captain Dahlgren (Paxton), his second-in-command, Lieutenant Tyler (McConaughey), the veteran Chief Klough (Keitel), and a bunch of young navy recruits. When they locate the German craft, two raft-loads of the Americans paddle over, board and take command. Before they can return to their own sub, however, disaster strikes, and the remaining crew must fend for themselves on a foreign vehicle.

The rest of the film sees the Americans playing torpedoes with another German U-boat, as well as several skirmishes with a German destroyer. These scenes are quite tense, involving lots of shouting and running to and fro. When the depth charges from the destroyer sink towards the diving sub, you'll be glued to your seat, and the resulting explosions will rattle your bones. Incidentally, one should see this film in a cinema equipped with digital sound. Not only are the explosions powerful, but the creaking and wailing of the old sub as it descends to its limits puts you right on board with the sailors.

The characters, though, are another matter. McConaughey is the handsome one, whose perceived betrayal by his captain for a promotion has him at loggerheads with Paxton for the first quarter of the film. There could have been some interesting plot development here, but the film's writer and director, Mostow (who directed the initially intriguing, but ultimately average, Kurt Russell suspense film, Breakdown), doesn't devote any more time to it. Action and suspense is what this film is about, and action and suspense is what he gives us. McConaughey stares, thinks, and shouts the best he can, but Paxton has little to do other than giving some advice. The rest of the cast is similarly undeveloped, with Keitel having little impact as the loyal and long-serving crew member, and rock star Bon Jovi disappearing without me noticing it. That he resembles one of the others (radioman Wentz, played by Jack Noseworthy) is no help at all. Still, for all the flaws at characterisation, the action scenes are directed skilfully enough to generate the suspense required.

The early part of the calendar year is usually a barren wasteland for those wanting a riveting, thrill-ride action film. These types of film are, of course, often left till the North American summer season (May-August) before being released. U-571 could even be called an early entrant in the summer movie stakes, for it is the type of non-stop action film that usually floods the cinemas during this period. As it is, it's quite a good entrant, and it will be interesting to see how long its legs can stand when the heavy hitters come around in May.

(c) Joe Wong