Disney's The Finest Hours Movie Review

The Finest Hours is a new Disney movie based on the true story of Bernie Webber, a Boatswain's Mate First Class, in the US Coastguard.  He was stationed Chatham, Massachusetts in February of 1952. There was a terrible storm that caused not one, but two oil tankers to split in two.  Just the idea of that fact seems fictional.  Having been in the Navy myself and being stationed on an oiler also, I can't imagine a storm and seas so rough that my ship could split in two.  But, in fact it did happen.  Bernie and his crew of three take a 36-foot lifeboat out into the storm to try and save any survivors on board the oiler SS Pendleton.  

This is a truly heroic story of not only the Coastguardsmen, but also the remaining crew of the SS Pendleton.  The decisions the crew of the Pendleton made while waiting for their rescue were pivotal to their survival.  The cast includes Chris Pine (Star Trek), Casey Affleck, (Interstellar) and Holiday Granger (Cinderella.)  They speak with flawless Boston accents making the story even more believable.  When people talk about the golden age of cinema you would only have to show them The Finest Hours to make them understand what made American movies so great.  Chris Pine plays Bernie, as the protagonist brings the classic leading man role of vulnerability and strength that he haven't seen since Gary Cooper and Jimmy Stewart. 

I brought my whole family to see this movie and we watched it in IMAX 3D, which made the CGI even more amazing, seeing that oiler split in half is breathtaking. It's really astounding how much of what is portrayed in the movie is actually true.  I encourage you to first see the movie and then read about the inspiration behind it.  It is very rare to find a movie that portrays the story that it was based on so well, but Director Craig Gillespie (Million Dollar Arm) has done just an awesome job!

After the movie was over I had a woman tell me that "the movie was good, but she was expecting the return trip to be more life threatening."  Do have to say I was expecting the journey back to be a bit different too.  But, that being said, it was still very satisfying.  A definite two thumbs up, must see movie!

I received admission to this movie in order to write this review, all thoughts and opinions are my own.  No other compensation was received.