Review – K-19: The Widowmaker

Man versus the Deep Blue Sea is reworked for the atomic age in this drama about a Soviet submarine crew battling nearly impossible odds just to keep their ill-outfitted boat from blowing up. The plot features all the usual cliché devices and characters: Harrison Ford and Liam Neeson square off as officers with differing views on the proper way to run a submarine, et cetera et cetera. The new wrinkle here is a malfunctioning reactor, adding radiation sickness to the usual mix of maritime drama. Frankly I could have done without it. Blowing up and drowning are one thing, but radiation for some reason strikes me as an especially icky way to die. Otherwise if you like tales of camaraderie overcoming all obstacles – or if you’re like me and you just like sub movies – then you’ll get your money’s worth. Mildly amusing