Crimson Tide

Buena Vista Pictures | Release Date: May 12, 1995

7.1	USER SCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 75 Ratings

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YorkManJun 1, 2016

Excellent post Cold War undersea thriller starring Gene Hackman as Captain Ramsay, the grizzled, old school Captain of the nuclear submarine USS Alabama, and Denzel Washington as his newly promoted First Officer, Lieutenant Commander Hunter.Excellent post Cold War undersea thriller starring Gene Hackman as Captain Ramsay, the grizzled, old school Captain of the nuclear submarine USS Alabama, and Denzel Washington as his newly promoted First Officer, Lieutenant Commander Hunter.
When a situation develops that forces Hunter into committing mutiny, in order to prevent a launch of nuclear missiles, it ultimately boils down to a battle of wills between the two men. Each convinced they are right, and each dedicated to their course of action.
Tony Scott directs, and conjurs up a tight and well crafted on screen depiction of life on a submarine. Going from the initial mundanities of everyday life, to ramping up the tensions as the crew deal with the distinct possibility their sub might become a very large metal coffin.
The acting throughout is excellent, with (pre-Lord of the Rings) Viggo Mortenson a stand out, as the weapons officer (and old friend of Hunter) who gets caught in the middle.
There are some (big) problems with the film though. The first is that it does take extreme liberties its narrative. The film was criticised on release by anyone and everyone connected with the US Navy, who stated that the principle notion of the movie (a mutiny) would never happen in real life. Other criticisms were thrown around about the (late in the day) script re-writes by Quentin Tarantino. It's so obvious where his 'lines' are in the script, and when they are being spoken it's utterly out of place.
The ending was also commented on, and it's no surprise this film was parodied in an episode of The Simpsons, the ending coming in for a very wry level of sarcasm due to it essentially being a cop-out. People wanting an actual epilogue that puts things into context won't be getting one.

Overall though this is an exciting action-thriller. Put your thinking cap in your pocket, fire up the DVD/Blu-Ray, ramp up the bass on your sound system/TV, dim the lights..... And go along for the ride!… Expand

3 of 3 users found this helpful30

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MeritCobaSep 24, 2016

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Nuclear devastation threatens the west coast of the United States when Russian rebels capture several intercontinental missile bases in Siberia and declare war against the USA. The crew of the submarine USS Alabama is in the midst of this modern missile crisis when the order arrives to launch the pre-emptive strike. Then communications break down, but not before a last garbled message comes through.

Now the captain, played by veteran Gene Hackman, and his second in command, played by the gifted Denzel Washington, face off: fire as ordered, and possibly trigger a global nuclear war, or reestablish communications, and thus risking the submarine and cause a delay with possibly disastrous consequences for the US. A rebel submarine makes matters more difficult.

The movie is commendable in that it remains focused on the crew and we know not much more than they do. This makes us feel as they do. However, Crimson Tide lacks flow. Flow is when events in the movie feel as being part of a natural progress that makes the story move forward. A movie lacks flow when we start to wonder.

With Crimson Tide it starts with the assignment of Washington to the Alabama. It somehow feels strange that an important ship like the Alabama gets a second in command assigned who knows nothing of that particular ship, has no experience and seems of a different disposition that his commanding officer. But then stranger things happen.

Next is the garbled message. Just when the Alabama loses contact with central command they get this garbled message. Is it a recall of the previous order? Nobody knows..but how convenient that it arrives just in time to lay a seed of doubt and stir the fires of conflict. But it could happen. Stranger things have.

Next then is that when Washington convinced Hackman to reestablish contact with headquarters using a buoy, the winch breaks down and makes such noise that it alerts the rebel submarine. How very convenient. But stranger things have happened.

Next, the Alabama succeeds in destroying the Russian submarine even though the latter fires four torpedos first on the latter. But the only two torpedo's fired by the Alabama do hit. It could happen. Stranger things have.

However, the last torpedo damages the Alabama and it sinks to the bottom of the sea, reaches hull crushing depth, but just in time regains buoyancy and escapes in the nick of time. Well. It could happen, stranger things have.

Then when the Alabama is in the position to reestablish contact with central command the transmitter is broken. And when the confrontation between Hackman and Washington reaches boiling point, it suddenly works again. It could happen.Stranger things have.

But having so many events conveniently happen breaks the flow of the story. Strange things happen, a series of strange things is extremely rare. And if a story requires them to be there otherwise there would be no story is bad story telling.

Compare Crimson Tide to the Caine Mutiny which has no such odd incidents. It is a natural story that has flow. Crimson Tide can only exist because it requires exceptional strange things to happen. This is its main flaw.
No excellent acting by Hackman, Washington and Mortensen can repair that damage.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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TyranianSep 24, 2019

Reasonably entertaining but thinly-plotted thriller with good acting but inconsistent writing.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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amheretojudgeDec 3, 2018

Crimson Tide is surely a wave that comes and goes but as far as it keeps hitting the surface, it gives you a one big wallop of sweat and war inducing debate.

Crimson Tide Scott's bull fight of the lead actors going head to head on screenCrimson Tide is surely a wave that comes and goes but as far as it keeps hitting the surface, it gives you a one big wallop of sweat and war inducing debate.

Crimson Tide

Scott's bull fight of the lead actors going head to head on screen for a better, stronger, smarter punch is persistently convincing us to invest in their ideologies despite of having a non-gripping screenplay. It is surely a mature script. A well balanced and calculative that grims behind the screen for judging you as per the decisions you land upon. Surprisingly, the tense environment that is created which you fret upon will wear down at some point, proves you wrong as the feature ages on screen. And it is not because of its often fumbling script but because of the persona, charisma, and the performance of the cast.

Seeking the power for their own reasonings and strong beliefs, Washington and Hackman steals your breath away everytime they share the screen. Washington's merrier and self-righteous portrayal is a straight bullet fired that demands attention. On the other hand, Hackman's provocative and the most human of all role amongst its cast is the apt challenge for Washington to overpower. This well constructed script maybe your textbook thriller drama, but the source from which it extracts the potential to drive this vehicle on both the direction is pure pop chase fun.

It depicts nature of each character at its best. And since the source or threat that fuels their decision is mutual, the perspective that varies couldn't be more clear. Having said that, it doesn't suggest that it doesn't have any weak moments. Often or not, it takes its time and over chews stuff for a cinematic purpose. But the fabrication of this submarine is too authentic and grounded for you to fall for such distractions. Crimson Tide is surely a wave that comes and goes but as far as it keeps hitting the surface, it gives you a one big wallop of sweat and war inducing debate.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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DogeformJan 30, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This movie has not aged well. The Captain who is all about being by the book threatens to murder two of his crew for not listening to him and assaults his XO in front of the entire crew. Despite this, he is given an early retirement with a pension instead of being arrested for trying to launch Nuclear missiles while communications are down. The intention of this movie was to question who is right but it never seems the Captain is doing anything except acting like a petulant child. The racial overtones of the "Spanish Horses" they talk about near the end of the movie also points to the Captain hating the XO for his race.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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