U-571

      Do Not Immerse In Water

      42 out of 100

 

           Title cards that accompany the opening and closing credits indicate that U-571 is based on a true story.  Take that with a truckload of salt.  In the movie, a near-suicide World War II naval mission develops, through a series of long shots, close shaves and extraordinary luck, into a heroic military success.  That’s not a spoiler; from the moment this action-thriller pushes out of port, the outcome is a foregone conclusion.  And while at least the plot takes you somewhere, the characters don’t.  It’s not their fault; they have little opportunity to do anything but frantically try to claw their way out of the desperate straits in which they find themselves.  Except for brief framing scenes, U-571 is two solid hours of watery adventure, devoid of subtlety, nuance or character development.  Glug!

            In World War II, German submarines known as U-boats wreaked mass destruction on Allied ships.  U-boats carried specialized communication gear using the Omega code—an encrypted language that, if it could be deciphered, would allow the U-boats to be tracked, breaking their deadly grip on the seas.  When U-571 is crippled by Allied depth charges, an American sub is disguised as German and dispatched with orders to capture the Omega code.   A Trojan Horse strategy is devised: board U-571 posing as a rescue squad and overcome the Teutons. 

In that they succeed, but it’s just the beginning of their problems.  From their vantage point on U-571, they watch as a German destroyer sinks their sub without a trace.  The captain (Bill Pullman) perishes, so Lieutenant Andy Tyler (Matthew McConaughey), a young officer smarting from recently being denied his own command, suddenly gets more than he bargained for.  A series of ever-more harrowing, death-defying adventures ensues, as the brave sailors attempt to operate a leaky, unfamiliar submarine, dodge German torpedoes and depth charges (one torpedo literally scrapes the side of the sub as it passes), and preserve the all-important Omega code equipment.  Harvey Keitel plays Chief, a seasoned veteran who, in the few calm moments, provides support and advice to Tyler.  The rest of the crew, including a character played by Jon Bon Jovi, is virtually indistinguishable from each other. 

            In a preliminary scene, Lt. Tyler’s CO warned him that being in charge means making split-second life-and-death decisions, based on imperfect information.  That’s never so true as here; there are lots of frantic yelled commands and leaking pipes as the crew struggles to surmount impossible hurdles and mortally dangerous impasses.  But despite all the sturm und drang, the heroics just don’t generate suspense.  The details of what’s going on are often unclear, and what is understandable doesn’t ring true.  Maybe Saving Private Ryan spoiled me for World War II movies, but U-571 fails to sustain interest and ultimately sinks under its own weight.  Give this leaky sub a wide berth. 

Written and directed by Jonathan Mostow (Breakdown).  Rated PG-13.  Running time:1 hour 55 minutes.

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