Directed by:  Jonathan Mostow
Written by:  Jonathan Mostow, Sam Montgomery, 
David Ayer
Starring:  Matthew McConaughey, Harvey Keitel, Bill Paxton, Jon Bon Jovi, David Keith
 

April 23, 2000

         When I think of submarine movies, the three that come to mind are Das Boot, Crimson Tide, and The Hunt for Red October.  Inevitably, U-571 has to be compared to these.  The sad truth is, it doesn’t compare to them.
         Das Boot is the story of a German submarine crew set during WWII.  Most of it takes place in a German U-boat and we get an in depth study of these characters and the effects of submarine warfare.  In U-571, the characters are flimsy at best.  
        Lt. Andrew Tyler (McConaughey) has no business being second in command on a submarine, let alone the commander.  He questions himself in front of his men, which is used only so he and Chief Klough (Keitel) can have a conversation about how he shouldn’t do that.  This man is up for Commander, and he doesn’t understand that he needs to at least have the appearance that he’s in control.
         Das Boot is also the best made film of the three.  Wolfgang Petersen really catches the claustrophobic feel of a submarine.  And the sound in the movie, the pings, the explosions, really creates tension with the crew.  It’s so obvious that U-571 is trying to copy this style, and Mostow fails.
         If Das Boot is the best directed film, then Crimson Tide is the most action packed.  Crimson Tide is about a nuclear submarine which is ordered to launch it’s missiles.  Another order comes through but is cut off.  Now Captain Frank Ramsey (Gene Hackman) and 1st Officer Ron Hunter (Denzel Washington) go head to head, creating a mutiny, because of their different tactics.  Tension fills the action scenes as we wait to see who will take control.  
        Really the only decent aspect of U-571 are the action scenes, the best one being when they board the German U-boat.  The problem is that near the end they become predictable, using the same tactics that the other three films have used.  Also, they only fight one destroyer.
         My favorite of the three though is The Hunt for Red October.  From a Tom Clancy novel, this submarine thriller balances the action with the politics, that is always present with Clancy.  Alec Baldwin plays Jack Ryan, an analyst who suspects a Russian sub Captain, Ramius, is trying to defect, instead of starting a war.  The Russians of course don’t want him to defect, so they get the US to help them hunt down the ship, the Red October.  McTiernan, who directs winners and losers, made an intelligent submarine war movie, equally balancing the action with character.  
         U-571 is a collage of the submarine films that came before it.  It seems that the writer’s didn’t even spend enough time making an authentic military script.  Throughout the film, the lower military ranks refer to Lt. Tyler as Mr. Tyler.  Granted, they don’t believe in his ability to command.  But I hardly believe that on a military submarine during WWII, the sailors wouldn’t still notice rank, and at least address him as Lt.  

Alternative Recommendations:  The Hunt for Red October, Crimson Tide, Das Boot  

-Reviewed in Theater-

Nominated for
2 Fidelio Film Awards

Winner of
1 Fidelio Film Award