Deepwater Horizon

Roland Emmerich could take notes from “Deepwater Horizon”. As far as disaster movies go, we haven’t seen one that’s this good in a long time. Not only does it deliver the thrills and the spectacle of seeing wanton destruction, but it also manages to keep you invested without resorting to cheap tricks. I latched onto the characters of this film and that made the big special effects laden scenes that much more effective.

Based on a true story, it follows Mike Williams (Mark Wahlberg) and Andrea Fleytas (Gina Rodriguez), two of the 120 or so crew members on board the Deepwater Horizon, an offshore drilling rig hired by BP to dig an oil well in the Gulf of Mexico. When BP officials direct the crew to rush through safety protocols in order to get the well ready for pumping, disaster strikes.

What I enjoyed about the film is that it helps you understand what exactly went wrong in this incident. From the beginning, we are walked through the normal operating procedures of a deep sea drilling operation like the one aboard Deepwater Horizon. That means you know what to keep an eye out for when things begin going wrong, and it’s all done in a very organic way. When “mud” begins seeping out of the equipment, no rookie character asks “what’s that mean? ”, no veteran has to quickly try and explain to him (and us) why it’s necessary. By showing real people doing their jobs, something that’s always been rare in films, you learn what you need to know and you get to know the people involved. You understand what is happening, it allows you to relate to the crew as they watch in silent horror. At no point did I feel like the film was talking down to its audience despite the fact that the film follows specialist dealing with highly sophisticated and technologically advanced equipment. Yes, it’s a little wordy at first, but it pays off. You are able to look back and the film and see all of the warning signs. I appreciated it a lot. It’s - dare I say it? –educational.

With the situation firmly established, the film makes the wise choice of focusing on just a few characters and highlighting the events on April 20th instead of trying to show every single person that was there. Mark Wahlberg is the star, followed closely by Gina Rodriguez. Helping us understand the gravity of the situation and what led to it are Kurt Russell as the chief safety inspector Jimmy Harrell, John Malkovich as Donald Vidrine and Kate Hudson as Mike’s wife Felicia. In a typical disaster movie, you’d learn the names of every single person involved and you’d be asked to lend sympathy to them by seeing how Jimmy is preparing to propose to his girlfriend, or how Mike’s wife is pregnant with their first child. You’d get an avalanche of clichés instead of real character development. You won’t find any of those cheap tropes here. You simply see people that feel real stuck in a horrific situation. That’s enough to keep you invested.

I was not prepared for the spectacle that is Deepwater Horizon. This film may not feature giant alien spaceships tossing familiar skyscrapers and the world is not going to end if they can’t stop the flow of petroleum, but it doesn’t need those over-the-top, fantasy developments. When this oil rig blows, it’s terrifying. With the film focusing on just a few characters, you can’t predict who is going to get injured/die or how, or when. The film puts you right on the front lines. While you’re picking your jaw off the floor, you can’t help but be hypnotized by the cataclysm. It’s frightening, but also beautiful in its own way. I have to give a hand to the special effects artists. This film isn’t being released in 3D, but I wish it had been. Seeing it in 3D, on an oversized IMAX screen would’ve been flat-out spectacular. There are so many instances where shrapnel, debris, flames and dust flies around that I’m still shaken a little. It’s so exciting that you almost forget that this is a true story and that there are people to blame for it all of the injuries, damages, and deaths. Sure there might be some composited characters or conversations that are made up but a fact’s a fact. People died and millions of barrels of oil were dumped into the ocean. It didn’t need to happen. I hope this movie reminds people of the greed that caused this tragedy.

“Deepwater Horizon” is a classy disaster movie. It delivers everything you want to see – ample amounts of special effects and carnage – but it also handles the real-life story and the people involved it in without being exploitative. It never resorts to cheap tricks to get you invested in this tale of adversity and heroism. I didn't even mind that the film doesn't even try to dispell the myth that fossil fuels are mostly composed of dead dinosaurs. I was too invested, particularly during the conclusion. I was genuinely emotional as the credits started rolling. “Deepwater Horizon” is thrill ride and a crowd pleaser. (Theatrical version on the big screen, October 2, 2016)