Do you like movies that grip you and make your heart race? Then you need to check out Disney’s THE FINEST HOURS which is available on Blu-ray and Digital HD today. This heroic action-thriller is the remarkable true story of the most daring rescue mission in U.S. Coast Guard history and will keep you on the edge of your seat!
On February 18, 1952, a massive nor’easter struck New England, smashing towns along the Eastern seaboard and wreaking havoc on ships caught in its deadly path. The SS Pendleton, a T-2 oil tanker bound for Boston, rips in half and traps more than 30 sailors inside its rapidly-sinking stern.
Casey Affleck takes on the role of first assistant engineer Ray Sybert, who ends up being the senior officer on board and is forced to take charge of the frightened crew.
I was very impressed with Affleck in this movie, because typically he plays a side-kick and minor character. In THE FINEST HOURS, Affleck was very believable and endearing as the reclusive engineer who inspires the scared men to set aside their difference and work together to survive one of the worst storms to ever hit the East Coast.
Meanwhile, word of the disaster reaches the U.S. Coast Guard station in Chatham, Massachusetts. Warrant Officer Daniel Cluff (Eric Bana) orders a somewhat suicidal operation to rescue the stranded men on the SS Pendleton. Despite overwhelming odds, four men led by Coast Guard Captain Bernie Webber (Chris Pine), set out in a wooden lifeboat.
Chris Pine, an actor I adore from movies like the re-booted “Star Trek” series and “Into the Woods” takes on his role in this epic adventure with stride. Bernie Webber starts off as a young man at the beginning of his career as a Coast Guard and also meets his future wife. Within hours, the massive and fatal storm hits the coast of Cape Cod and Bernie is sent out on the rescue mission facing frigid temperatures, 60-foot high waves and hurricane-force winds.
The story takes you through everyone’s experience over the span of the terrible accident. The crew on both the Tanker as well as the rescue cruiser are clinging on for life and making extreme life-threatening decisions moment by moment.
On shore, families and friends have little to no communication and are praying for the best but anticipating the worst. Bernie’s fiancee exemplifies pure heart and hope with the community, as they all desperately await news between the radio crackles. Bernie and Miriam (Holliday Grainger) have such a romantic, but realistic relationship. He is kinda of shy, while she is a modern 1950’s woman who tends to take command of the situation. Together, they are a wonderful couple who balance each other out.
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My husband and I enjoyed this movie together twice and will be watching it again soon. THE FINEST HOURS has the perfect combination of realistic special effects, a captivating action-packed story, talented cast, great capture of a specific time in recent history and heart.
The serious drama in addition to the life-and-death scenario did not appeal to my adventurous 11-year old daughter. It was too intense and real for her.
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