Greyhound

Tom Hanks in another war movie, and is great again, and the short running time makes it a fairly brisk suspenseful one-off, but the combat at sea is not as appealing to me as combat on land, so I saw the film more out of obligation and curiosity. Story****, Action***, Humor>No, Violence>No, Entertainment***, Music***, Visuals****, Atmosphere***, Suspense****. 6/10. (19/07/2020)

A more likeable and restrained alternative to Emmerich's Midway. With a shorter runtime, better structure and formal stylisation, and more straightforward. Hanks takes this on with (un)surprising aplomb as the Captain of a destroyer. The paradox is that, although this is a war film, what is more interesting than the sometimes highly digital combat sequences is the meticulously detailed depiction of the workings of the crew and the procedures and tasks they perform as part of their routine. Nothing groundbreaking, but at least it doesn’t want to be a megalomaniac war flick. (14/07/2020)

It didn’t turn out to be such a terrible B-movie as the trailer made it seem at first. However, although it has a great pace from start to finish, you can't shake the feeling that its biggest advantage is, ironically, that it’s over in 90 minutes. A likable movie, nevertheless, full of pathos and often bordering on being unintentionally hilarious. (15/07/2020)

As if, after Band of Brothers and Pacific, Tom Hanks needed to pay homage once more to the front-line heroes of World War Two. This film falls short of the parameters of a war movie for the big screen; it rather feels like an expensive TV production, with one studio, one incomplete model of the ship, a bit of wizardry with the weather, and lots and lots of greenscreen. At times it is monotonous with one order after another being barked at subordinates, but it also contains interesting ideas (to wit: the provocative radio calls of German U-boats). Hanks, who has the proper charisma of a captain, reliably keeps the picture afloat, and the torpedoes provide one moment of suspense – but overall, I’m not impressed. Das Boot isn’t dethroned by this. (03/08/2020)

A beautifully naive old school war epic about a soldier of Christ who resists the Germans in slippers. It’s a nice idea to turn a procedural perspective on its head and see the hunt for U-boats from the other side of the surface. If Hanks forgot about the completely necessary personal and religious mess and left it as 91 minutes of action zigzagging in front of submarines, it could have been downright catchy. This way, it’s catchy and funny, but I won't pretend that it’s worth watching throughout the footage. The perfect movie for Grandpa Simpson. And also for those who like U-571 and submarine movies in general. (12/07/2020)