Should you watch this at weekend movie ticket prices? If you’re a Chris Hemsworth fan.
Should you watch this at weekday movie ticket prices? If you’re interested in Moby Dick.
Secret ending? No.
Running time: 122 minutes (~2 hours)
“In the Heart of the Sea” is an adventure film based on the book of the same name, which is a recount of the story that inspired “Moby Dick.” It focuses on a group of sailors who find themselves struggling to survive after a terrible disaster at sea. It stars Chris Hemsworth (Owen Chase), Benjamin Walker (Captain George Pollard, Jr), Cillian Murphy (Matthew Joy), Tom Holland (Thomas Nickerson), Ben Whishaw (Herman Melville), and Brendan Gleeson (old Thomas Nickerson). It is rated PG-13.
“In the Heart of the Sea” fulfills its premise well by providing excellent ocean scenes and dramatic sea conflicts. Amusingly (although not unexpected), it flounders when the action shifts to the land, where the performances become trite and the plot is straightforward and unexciting. Regardless, the movie immerses you into a world that’s almost two centuries away, and gives you a taste of life in that time.
Highlights
Evocative costumes
The costume design is amazing in this film. The tunics and coats are lavished with stunning detail, and help to recreate the era of “Moby Dick” along with excellent sea sets. Even when the sailors are shipwrecked and in tatters, their outfits are ruined in a way that shows you how they would be put together. The distinction in attire between the business owners and the sailors also amplify the ideological gulf between the two groups, showing us the difference between those who own, and those who do.
Detailed sets
The set design is fantastic, whether it be the whaling ships or the houses on land. The ships manage to convey a sense of majesty and nobility, while still retaining the cruel reality that it’s ultimately made of fragile wood during violent confrontations. The ship’s riggings are fascinating in particular, especially when they’re a key part of the action. Owen Chase’s idyllic abode also contrasts well against the harsh life aboard the ship, reminding us how different, and powerful, the sea can be.
Whaling action
The mid-movie confrontation is where the action truly grips you. Up till then, whaling has been limited to mostly talking and some obligatory work which the sailors have had to do. But their epic battle with nature is what really terrifies you — how will they possibly survive this encounter? It’s a strong turning point in the story, and it comes right off the heels of a truly frightening encounter with a creature they cannot comprehend.
Letdowns
Ends with a whimper
The true climax of the film is really in the middle, rather than at the end of the movie. After the spectacular whale attack, the movie just limps to a close. You know how it will end, and it’s just a matter of waiting out the remaining half of the film to see how everything plays out.
Chris Hemsworth mumbles a lot
While there’s no doubting his presence on the ship, it’s a pain whenever Owen Chase has to deliver lines of exposition or has a heart-to-heart talk with any other character. His enunciation slows to a drawl, making it difficult to figure out what they’re being so emotional about.
CGI whale looks odd
The actions and aftermath of the whale’s attack is a testament to its power, but the close up shots of the creature are downright strange. It doesn’t quite have the shape you’d expect, but its appearance isn’t otherworldly enough to be fearsome. You only know it’s a whale because they refer to it as such, otherwise it’s just a mass of flesh with a large flapping tail.
“In the Heart of the Sea” puts together a powerful adventure at sea, although it stumbles towards the second half of the movie.
“In the Heart of the Sea” opens in cinemas 3 December, 2015 (Thursday).
This review was first published on Yahoo.
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