Before I say anything critical of the film I have to admit; it's about damn time someone has attempted to tell this story. With that said, time to get a little critical.
First, if you are a Cage fan like me, this film does not get Cagey. Nor should it. This is a restrained role with Cage sharing screen time with many characters throughout.
I feel like this film has many components, or parts - some hurt it while others help it. It has the generic feel of Michael Bay's "Pearl Harbor" to introduce the characters and plot; while I didn't care for that film I know many do - yet for me, this hurt. Second, many scenes with sharks are no better than a Sci-Fi Channel-made shark horror TV movie; it is sensationalized and way over-the-top (including the inclusion of great white sharks not even present at the actual event). A better way to have depicted it would have been to focus on the suspense of the sailor's predicament, the emotional impact, and the effects of exposure and dehydration. Obviously, this really hurt the film in my eyes. The last component I see in this film is that it does have elements that remind me of an Eastwood film - a la "Flags of Our Fathers" and "Letters From Iwo Jima"; these reminders are few in number but do strike emotionally deeper - in particular the face-to-face between McVay and Hashimoto.
See, for me, unrealistic shark attacks and run-of-the-mill storytelling don't pique my interest - make me feel something and you win me over. This film scores a 4/10 on that scale and receives another 2 on top for even addressing the fate the USS Indianapolis and her crew - in particular the fate of Rear Admiral McVay.
Would this film have been worthy of seeing in theaters? No. But it definitely is worth a rent or having up your sleeve when other options aren't available.
First, if you are a Cage fan like me, this film does not get Cagey. Nor should it. This is a restrained role with Cage sharing screen time with many characters throughout.
I feel like this film has many components, or parts - some hurt it while others help it. It has the generic feel of Michael Bay's "Pearl Harbor" to introduce the characters and plot; while I didn't care for that film I know many do - yet for me, this hurt. Second, many scenes with sharks are no better than a Sci-Fi Channel-made shark horror TV movie; it is sensationalized and way over-the-top (including the inclusion of great white sharks not even present at the actual event). A better way to have depicted it would have been to focus on the suspense of the sailor's predicament, the emotional impact, and the effects of exposure and dehydration. Obviously, this really hurt the film in my eyes. The last component I see in this film is that it does have elements that remind me of an Eastwood film - a la "Flags of Our Fathers" and "Letters From Iwo Jima"; these reminders are few in number but do strike emotionally deeper - in particular the face-to-face between McVay and Hashimoto.
See, for me, unrealistic shark attacks and run-of-the-mill storytelling don't pique my interest - make me feel something and you win me over. This film scores a 4/10 on that scale and receives another 2 on top for even addressing the fate the USS Indianapolis and her crew - in particular the fate of Rear Admiral McVay.
Would this film have been worthy of seeing in theaters? No. But it definitely is worth a rent or having up your sleeve when other options aren't available.