K-19: THE WIDOWMAKER

Starring: Harrison Ford, Liam Neeson, Peter Stebbings, Sam Spruell, Peter Sarsgaard and Josh Ackland
Director: Kathryn Bigelow
Running Time: 127 mins
Certificate: 12A

Out to buy on DVD 19th May

1961 and Russia are falling behind the America's in the arms race. As tension grew between the two countries, the USSR launched its first nuclear powered submarine, K-19. Without any real sea trails and completely new systems the boat, under the command of Captain Alexei Vostrikov (Ford), heads to the polar region for a short-range missile test. After successfully completing the mission and the crew is given orders to patrol the eastern seaboard of the United States. One their way, one of K-19's nuclear reactors develops a fault meaning the crew face a race against time to fix the problem or risk a meltdown that would result in an explosion three times more powerful than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima. An explosion that could trigger the start of a third World War.

Based on true events that were only disclosed after the fall of the Soviet Union, this is a story of human courage in the face a real global disaster. The problem is that the subject matter isn't really strong enough to make a big budget feature film about. If this had have been a TV movie, documentary or even a low budget Russian made drama then it would have had more impact but as a major Hollywood movie it doesn't really work.

Having two big name actors play the key Russian roles, when they both so obviously don't look as if they come from the eastern block, is another flaw. While their performances are quite good, the two are never really convincing enough to make you believe they are Russian. Liam Neeson as second in command Captain Mikhail Polenin, is the highlight of the movie his accent is very good. Harrison Ford, while trying to give on of his most powerful performances in years, he is hindered by his truly awful Russian accent. There is good support from the more Russian looking crew but you never really get to know them enough for the dramatic impact of the events to incite any real sense of loss.

Kathryn Bigelow's direction is a slick and composed as ever. She utilises computer graphics to increase the possible movements of the camera in a similar way to David Fincher, which works well in the confined space of the submarine. The problem is that the material restricts her creativity, as there is no call for excessive action scenes, the area in which she excels.

All in all, the movie is not a bad film but the problems lie with the story and the fact that as a large Hollywood movie it doesn't really work. The subject matter maybe interesting but it would have been far better if it had been told in a far smaller and more character driven way.

Audio commentary from director Kathryn Bigelow and cinematographer Jordan Cronenweth, 'The Making of K-19' documentary, 'Makeup Techniques' featurette, 'Breaking The Hull' featurette, 'It's In The Details' featurette, Interactive menu & Scene access