Derek Winnert

Information

This article was written on 08 Jan 2014, and is filled under Reviews.

Current post is tagged

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

White Squall **** (1996, Jeff Bridges, Caroline Goodall, John Savage, Ryan Phillippe, Scott Wolf, Ethan Embry, Jeremy Sisto) – Classic Movie Review 654

1

Jeff Bridges stars as sea captain Christopher ‘Skipper’ Sheldon, who teaches a bunch of teenage lads the ropes aboard ships, in this 1996 thrilling, old-style high-seas adventure. It’s based on a real tale in 1960 when 13 Ocean Academy lads set off on a year’s training on the good ship Albatross and got into a lot of deep water.

2

The first half is a bright and jolly mix of Treasure Island and Dead Poets Society, in which the boys become men by standing up to the sea and to what’s wrong in their lives and characters. The terrifying second-half storm, in which several boys are killed, is spectacularly staged.

3

1

However, the subsequent trial of Bridges for lack of due care and attention while skippering unfortunately tends to plunge the film into TV movie territory. It gives the ending a lightweight and clichéd feel just when it should be powering up emotionally.

4

3

Bridges, however, is very good, earnest and utterly credible in the star role, and the great team of young actors (including Ryan Phillippe, Scott Wolf, Ethan Embry, Eric Michael Cole, Jeremy Sisto, David Lascher and Balthazar Getty) are excellent too.

5

MSDWHSQ EC002

However, the film finally seems an odd choice for director Ridley Scott, who never quite explains why he was keen to film this story. He does make a marvellous job of staging the storm, though, and maybe it was this that attracted him to the project. It was a costly movie ($38million) that, despite all the testosterone on screen, didn’t really click at the box office (only taking $10million in the US).

© Derek Winnert 2014 Classic Film Review 654 derekwinnert.com

6

7

8

10

 

9

12a

12b

1a

Comments are closed.

Recent articles

Recent comments