THE FINEST HOURS
US, 2016, 117 minutes, Colour.
Chris Pine, Casey Affleck, Ben Foster, Eric Bana, Holliday Grainger, John Ortiz.
Directed by Craig Gillespie.
The Finest Hours is a US and action adventure at sea, based on a true story.
In 1952, off the Massachusetts coast, a tanker was buffeted by waves and broke in half. There were other disasters at sea on the night. Someone on the coast, during the storm and lightning, saw the outline of the tanker and communicated with the local coastguard. The commander, not a local and so resented because of his accent and manner, ordered out a small boat to search for the stricken vessel. For many, it seemed something of a death sentence – nevertheless, the mission was successful.
The film starts rather slowly, establishing the character of Bernie Webber, a young coastguard officer, hesitant, a believer in regulations, and shy and awkward with girls. He has made an appointment to meet a young woman that he has been talking for some time on the phone. He is encouraged by his friend, Gus, and the two men meet girls and go to a dance. The girl, Miriam, is much less hesitant than Bernie and proposes to him – but he is troubled, willing, needing to ask his commanding officer.
Then the storm breaks and Bernie is put in charge of a small but competent boat, his friend, Richie, also somewhat critical of him, volunteers to go as do two other men. The difficulty is getting across the sand and rock bar of the harbour without running aground.
In the meantime we are treated to the powerful special effects for mountainous seas, vast waves, ocean turmoil and the breaking of the tanker. At two stages, the captain of each boat says to his men, “brace yourselves” – but that is something the audience has been doing in their seats for the previous 30 minutes so impacting in the effects.
In the meantime, Miriam is concerned, confronts the officer in charge, challenges his orders. Ultimately, she has to wait like everyone else on the docks, living in hope.
Because we know that the rescue was ultimately successful, the suspense is not in what will happen but how what will happen, the difficulties of Bernie in the small boat, the stalling the engine, the loss of the compass, and a sudden finding of the stricken tanker.
And, on the tanker, some of the men want to lower the lifeboats and escape, but the engineer in charge, Ray, tries to convince them that the lifeboats will be smashed to pieces very quickly. He uses his ingenuity and the loyalty of the crew to work on the engine, to continue maintaining the pumps, to construct a tiller for safe steering and the idea of reversing the tanker onto a reef so that it can be steady in case of rescue.
The film is well done, the rescue plot dominating the personal drama, so some audiences may find the film not to their taste, perhaps to documentary-like. Chris Pine, who has been the new Captain Kirk in the two recent Star Trek adventures, shows himself capable as Bernie. Casey Affleck has a strong role as Ray. Eric Bana is the commander and Holliday Grainger is Miriam.
A worthy drama and a tribute to the heroic efforts of those men in 1952.
1. A true story? The 1950s? American shipping? The coastguard? The reputation of the rescue?
2. The period, Massachusetts, the town, the coast, the diner, the dance, offices, homes, the docks? The musical score?
3. The impact of the special effects, the ships, the sea, the breaking of the tanker, the small boat, the rescue? The sea, the waves, breaking, the reef, the bar? Audience bracing themselves as did the characters?
4. The introduction to Bernie Webber, hesitant young man, rules and regulations, the phone calls to Miriam, Gus and his friendship, support? The dance, attraction towards Miriam? Her proposal, his hesitation, the aftermath, wanting to ask permission of his officer? Their going on the fishing boat?
5. The situations at sea, the coastguard, rescues, resources?
6. Bernie, awkward, directions, regulations jobs tying up ships, the old men, Cluff in charge, ridiculed for his accent, his orders, Bernie obeying, getting a crew, volunteers, sense of responsibility? His relationship with Ritchie, the past, differences, Ritchie volunteering, working with him, collaborating with him?
7. Going out, the small boat, the weather, the small crew, searchlight, the engine failing, being fixed, going over the bar? The dangers for the men’s falling overboard? Bernie and his experience, knowledge of the waters? Getting through, losing the compass? His holding his nerve, going out to search, reactions to the men? Listening, suddenly finding the ship?
8. On the ship, the visuals of the tanker breaking in half? The interiors of the remainder? The different decks? Ray, his competence, the men supporting him? Brown and his complaints, wanting to use the lifeboat, Ray and his warnings of destruction, breaking the lifeboat? Working the crew, the engine, the beam for steering, keeping the pumps going, the decision to reverse into the reef?
9. Bernie, the rescue, 32 men say, the men and the descent, the cook encouraging the younger one, the fatality? The young cook? Brown and his acknowledgement, Ray the last to leave?
10. Ray, in himself, quiet, strong, his ideas, working hard, the success?
11. Miriam, the coming to the centre, confronting Cluff, his reactions, communicating with Bernie, Bernie deciding to bypass regulations? The drive, the crash, the woman passing by, her brother-in-law who had seen the boat? Fixing the car, Miriam waiting?
12. The people on the wharf, turning on the car lights, welcoming the group back?
13. Photos during the final credits, the information about the rescue, the awards, the subsequent careers?
