The Perfect Storm (2000)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

Wolfgang Petersen

Writers (WGA):

Sebastian Junger (book)
William D. Wittliff (screenplay)

Release Date:

30 June 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | Action | Thriller

Tagline:

In the Fall of 1991, the "Andrea Gail" left Gloucester, Mass. and headed for the fishing grounds of the North Atlantic. Two weeks later, an event took place that had never occurred in recorded history.

Plot:

An unusually intense storm pattern catches some commercial fishermen unaware and puts them in mortal danger.

Plot Keywords:

Storm | Fishing | Ice | Sea | Fishing Boat

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 4 wins & 19 nominations

Cast

George Clooney	...	Captain Billy Tyne
Mark Wahlberg	...	Bobby Shatford
Diane Lane	...	Christina Cotter
John C. Reilly	...	Dale 'Murph' Murphy
William Fichtner	...	David 'Sully' Sullivan
John Hawkes	...	Mike 'Bugsy' Moran
Allen Payne	...	Alfred Pierre
Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio	...	Linda Greenlaw
Karen Allen	...	Melissa Brown
Cherry Jones	...	Edie Bailey
Bob Gunton	...	Alexander McAnally III
Christopher McDonald	...	Todd Gross
Michael Ironside	...	Bob Brown
Rusty Schwimmer	...	Irene 'Big Red' Johnson
Janet Wright	...	Ethel Shatford

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for language and scenes of peril.

Runtime:

130 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital EX | SDDS (8 channels) | DTS

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Malaysia:U | Brazil:12 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Germany:12 (bw) | Hong Kong:IIB | Mexico:B | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:M | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | South Korea:12 | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:12 | USA:PG-13 (certificate #37526) | Philippines:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Dana Point, California, USA

Company:

Baltimore Spring Creek Productions

Trivia:

Michael Ironside, who plays Bob Brown, the "Andrea Gail"'s owner, was apparently mistaken for the character he plays by one of the town locals.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: After their ship has been bashed by the rogue wave, the crew is forced to replace the windows on the starboard side of the bridge with either plywood, or some other form of sheeting. At the point of this replacement, a crew member is see being picked up by the wind underneath the covering making him airborne and tossing him over board. The wires are very visible while the crew member is airborne.

Quotes:

Bobby Shatford: So, what are you so happy about?
Captain Billy Tyne: You just caught me on a good night. I'm doing what I was made to do - and I've got a feeling I'm going to do it even better this time.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Rob Lowe/Eminem (#26.1)" (2000)

Soundtrack:

End of the Line

An intense, real and emotional experience.

Heading into this film I did not expect the full on and intense experience that it delivered. I expected brilliant and seamless computer graphics, they were delivered. I expected a fairly personal story about the people involved, that was delivered. I expected some amazing sounds and sights, and I got them.

While I was watching this film, I couldn't help being aware of the fact that the people being tossed around the sea were, at least in part, real and that this movie was based on what they went through. But I also got more... I got to be in the storm and feel my heart quicken a little as the fishing vessel edges up impossibly large waves, and then crashes down to face another.

It is not a pretty film, it portrays very well the harsh environment in which it is set. It is a 'real' film, that doesn't seem to pull any punches.

The photography is excellent and really draws you in, it is fluid and makes you feel close to the action. The acting is very good, it really connects you with the crew of the Andrea Gail and those around them. The computer animation is what you would expect it to be - almost seamless - it delivers huge waves and powerful storm cells.

This is one of the best films I have seen in a long time, and truly removes you from your reality and into the storm.