Heroes abound in resolutely old-fashioned drama of gallantry at sea

Heroes emerge in times of adversity and in Disney's resolutely old-fashioned drama of gallantry at sea, the unlikely hero is a shy 1950s coast guard, who is a stickler for the regulations and willingly risks his life because the job demands it.
By The Newsroom
Published 18th Feb 2016, 10:00 BST
Updated 18th Feb 2016, 10:00 BST
Holliday Grainger as Miriam and Beau Knapp as Mel Gouthro in The Finest Hours PA/Claire Folger/DisneyHolliday Grainger as Miriam and Beau Knapp as Mel Gouthro in The Finest Hours PA/Claire Folger/Disney
Holliday Grainger as Miriam and Beau Knapp as Mel Gouthro in The Finest Hours PA/Claire Folger/Disney

“They say you gotta go out. They don’t say you gotta come back in,” he observes sombrely.

The challenge faced by this selfless boatswain’s mate in The Finest Hours seems insurmountable: to rescue the crew of a stricken oil tanker during the biggest storm to hit the east coast in a 36-feet long motor lifeboat that could splinter on the roiling Atlantic Ocean.

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It’s a classic tale of triumph against adversity and Scott Silver, Paul Tamasy and Eric Johnson’s script confidently plucks heartstrings as it seems the coast guard crew will fall to the might of Mother Nature.

Boatswain’s Mate First Class Bernie Webber (Chris Pine) meets strong-willed and sassy telephone exchange operator Miriam Penttinen (Holliday Grainger) in November 1951.

Their whirlwind romance leads to a marriage proposal, but coastguard regulations dictate that Bernie must ask the permission of Chief Warrant Officer Daniel Cluff (Eric Bana), who oversees the lifeboat station at Chatham, Massachusetts.

On the day Bernie nervously seeks approval, the oil tanker SS Pendleton breaks in half during a fierce storm, condemning the 41 survivors to a grim fate.

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Long-serving engineer Ray Sybert (Casey Affleck) galvanises the terrified crew and attempts to buy them some time by grounding the Pendleton on a reef.

Meanwhile, Cluff orders Bernie to assemble a 
three-strong team and attempt a rescue in a CG 36500 lifeboat.

Bernie selects Seaman Richard Livesey (Ben Foster), Seaman Ervin Maske (John Magaro) and Engineman Third Class Andrew Fitzgerald (Kyle Gallner) for the suicide mission.

The Finest Hours pays rousing tribute to the brave crew, who risked everything on February 18, 1952.

Pine delivers a winning performance as a man of unshakeable purpose and moral convictions, who inspires others to follow his reckless lead into the eye of a digitally rendered storm.

RATING: 6/10

Related topics:Disney