In the Heart of the Sea
Warner Bros. | Release Date: December 11, 2015
6.8
USER SCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 217 Ratings
USER RATING DISTRIBUTION
Positive:
129
Mixed:
79
Negative:
9
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6
ryan_gozDec 11, 2015
Mainly the determination and commitment from the cast along with some good character conflict and somewhat impressive CGI whales are what make this film worthy to watch. Although there is some poor cinematography, crowded scenes and a strangeMainly the determination and commitment from the cast along with some good character conflict and somewhat impressive CGI whales are what make this film worthy to watch. Although there is some poor cinematography, crowded scenes and a strange accent from Chris Hemsworth. Overall this was an average movie and does not showcase Ron Howard's talent as well as his previous films.… Expand
2 of 3 users found this helpful21
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6
BenTheBrownieDec 13, 2015
Based on the 1820 event, a whaling ship is preyed upon by a giant whale, stranding its crew at sea for 90 days, thousands of miles from home. I'm happy to say that this movie was surprisingly good! Sure, the pacing was slow and at a few partsBased on the 1820 event, a whaling ship is preyed upon by a giant whale, stranding its crew at sea for 90 days, thousands of miles from home. I'm happy to say that this movie was surprisingly good! Sure, the pacing was slow and at a few parts it got dull. But away from that I though it was a fun watch. The movie's build up was long, It took almost the entire movie to get to the actual meat of the film. The acting wasn't phenomenal but was most definitely watchable especially the ones from Chris Hemsworth and Tom Holland. For the time they are on screen together, they have a very watchable chemistry. The whole Mentor and Mentee thing going on between them is quite enjoyable. The cinematography and visual effects were absolutely breathtaking. Every time you see Moby Dick destroying the ships and wrecking havoc is just tension filled and heart pumping. The darker twist in the movie was supposed to cause “oh's” and “ah's” but I didn't see it. It felt forced into cause drama but just like Legend. You can't take it out of that true story because it is a true story and people would feel cheated. In the end, This movie was surprising. The setup went on a little too long and the writing was weak at times but besides that, beautiful. I'm giving this one a 6/10 (a positive 6/10).… Expand
1 of 2 users found this helpful11
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4
marco34laDec 12, 2015
Even having seen the mediocre score on here, I decided to check the film out anyway. I like Chris H and thought... how bad could it be? Well, folks, it is that bad. It's a solid 4. It's a bit of a snooze-fest, nothing of note happens in theEven having seen the mediocre score on here, I decided to check the film out anyway. I like Chris H and thought... how bad could it be? Well, folks, it is that bad. It's a solid 4. It's a bit of a snooze-fest, nothing of note happens in the first 1/3 of the movie. The visuals are weird - some shots look like you're watching a 3d film without the glasses - fuzzy and distorted. The 2nd third of the movie was ok, some action etc... but you don't really care about any of these characters. The 3rd part has about 4 different endings. It's just keeps going and going and going. Intermixed throughout is the cliched storyteller. No one cares about the storyteller - it aint interesting nor exciting. Very disappointed.… Expand
1 of 3 users found this helpful12
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6
TheQuietGamerMay 12, 2016
It's a good, true story. However one that's enjoyable elements are strictly tied/limited to the whale(s). The other stuff which includes tension between the captain and first mate, Herman Melville interviewing the last survivor of theIt's a good, true story. However one that's enjoyable elements are strictly tied/limited to the whale(s). The other stuff which includes tension between the captain and first mate, Herman Melville interviewing the last survivor of the disaster, and some character moments all fall short. They aren't enough to sink the ship, but they do make for less than smooth sailing.

It's hard to get into at first. I didn't care about the characters so when much of the film's opening consists of introducing us to these characters it's hard for the mind to not wander. Then the first whale shows up and things turn around. The characters themselves still aren't interesting, but their adventure begins to find some life. We get a fascinating look at whaling and some visually stunning creatures. The ocean and the whales that call it home are gorgeous here. It's that visual splendor and hardships the crew suffers because of them that carries the film back to port, even if worse for wear.

We have seen these survival elements before, so there is a sense of familiarity to it all. However that doesn't make the depiction of being stranded at see any less harrowing, especially with a gorgeous, massive whale making things harder for them at every turn.

It's a beautiful and occasionally boring survival story. One that never quite gets any morals out there. However the whales bring a dose of life to the film to keep in from being dragged to the depths of Davy Jones' Locker. The fact that it's a true story also helps. For land lovers this isn't going to be the cruise ship you're looking for, but for those with a love for the sea it's worth setting out to sea. Even if it's little better than a rowboat at times.

6.2/10… Expand
0 of 3 users found this helpful03
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5
CineAutoctonoFeb 25, 2016
"In the Heart of the Sea" was a film that tells what has not been told of " Moby Dick" , half of the film was very boring , but the performance of Chris Hemsworth was the one that stood out.
0 of 1 users found this helpful01
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6
RafterianDec 18, 2015
A movie where Thor meets Moby Dick meets Whale Wars meets Jaws meets an Unfortunate title is a movie I should have waited for Netflix to watch. See Krampus not Whale Wors 3D
0 of 4 users found this helpful04
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5
TyranianNov 29, 2019
Has good visuals but really doesn't make the most of a pretty good story. Hemsworth isn't the best.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
TryASummersaultDec 21, 2015
If you were expecting an action film, you are in for mostly drama with a few spare scenes of whale action. Otherwise it's completely about the sailor's survival stories, which is alright but not at all what it was made out and sold to be. TheIf you were expecting an action film, you are in for mostly drama with a few spare scenes of whale action. Otherwise it's completely about the sailor's survival stories, which is alright but not at all what it was made out and sold to be. The cgi was also a bit cheesy if you ask me.… Expand
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4
csw12Apr 25, 2016
The first half of the film is dreadful and gets a little better by the end. Overall the film is bland, with poor acting and in someways a meaningless story to tell.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
SpangleFeb 12, 2017
Ron Howard is a good director. What separates him from being great is that he is entirely dependent on his script. He is a good director because when given any material, he plays to its strengths and lets the narrative and characters do theRon Howard is a good director. What separates him from being great is that he is entirely dependent on his script. He is a good director because when given any material, he plays to its strengths and lets the narrative and characters do the talking. He is not flashy and lets the film breathe, rather he is a confident, knowledgeable, and smart filmmaker able to make the most of any material he is given. Unfortunately, this also means that bad material he is given will be watchable, but still bad (The Da Vinci Code). Great material lives up to its potential and Howard's assured hand gives the film the extra push to become a top-notch film (Apollo 13). In the Heart of the Sea is in the middle of these two. A solid film that would have been awful under a lesser director, but could have been special with a great director, the film is a middle-of-the-road film with pros and cons.

In the pros column, we have the visuals. Painstakingly gorgeous, it is a shame that this film bombed because it deserved recognition for the cinematography. On land, it beautifully captures the whaling towns and the New England feeling of these small sea towns. In town, the browns and grays are gorgeous. Gratuitous shots of the ocean from Owen Chase's (Chris Hemsworth) home with the green town on the side. With Anthony Dod Mantle's camera gently floating up and catching this beauty of the small seaside town in 1820s Nantucket, it feels practically idyllic. On the open ocean, the sunset lends beautiful oranges and yellows to adorn the film that leads to lush greens and blues. With long shot after long shot of the sun's orange casting down on the green and blue of the open ocean, In the Heart of the Sea is a painfully beautiful film. The cinematography gives this film impeccable visuals that feel like a painting one could find of ships in the 1800s. A true visual accomplishment, In the Heart of the Sea is a film that demands to be seen in order for every living person to be awed by the sheer beauty of the proceedings.

Unfortunately, this perfect cinematography is not matched by the visual effects. Compared to another film based around oil and disasters, Deepwater Horizon, the visual effects in this film are pretty bad at times. The whale looks incredible and, again, shots on the open ocean look great. The fire looks terrific too. Unfortunately, shots during the storm and while whaling are really ruined by how fake it all looks. It is similar to car being driven in a film from the 1940s or 1950s. It looks like it was filmed on a set, which is a shame. Similarly, a few action set pieces also look entirely staged, similar to the effects in a 1970s disaster movie. These moments do no just disrupt the suspension of disbelief on the part of the audience, but just look awful compared to the gritty realism of the rest of the film.

Another major negative for this film is the acting. In the lead role, Chris Hemsworth plays Thor. Pretending to have a New England accent in one scene where he says apaht instead of apart, he is fine and entirely palatable. But, either have an accent throughout the whole thing or just forget about trying. Sean Connery made a whole career on his looks, being cool, and playing every character as a Scotsman. Hemsworth can do the same, but he has to stop pretending. Alongside him, Benjamin Walker is pretty bad Captain Pollard, but nobody is as egregiously bad as Tom Holland. Every line he speaks honestly hurts. From the very beginning, Holland never utters a line with any conviction. He knows he is acting and we know he is acting. Shame the production team made the actors suffer so much (500-600 calories a day) to capture authenticity for such bad performances. Cannot say it was worth it on their parts. The only actors trying are Ben Whishaw and Brendan Gleeson, but as Herman Melville and old Thomas Nickerson, all they do is talk about the story and are not given much to do throughout. Of those who suffer, Cillian Murphy is alright, but even he turns in a lackluster performance compared to his body of work.

With bad visual effects and bad acting, In the Heart of the Sea is a film that simply lacks the depth needed to be a good film. Its story and characters are fine, but never as rich as the cinematography and painting-esque shots adorning the film. That said, as with all Ron Howard films, it is entirely watchable, riveting, and a film that entertains throughout despite its seemingly crusty and aged story.… Expand
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5
NickLikesMoviesDec 15, 2015
As a whole, In the Heart of the Sea is a visually grand, well-acted, disappointment of a film. The writing is weak, the characters are boring, and the pacing is sluggish.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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5
ydnar4Dec 26, 2015
Ron Howard is a good director, but he's not always a sure things. He does have some weaker movies and sadly In the Heart of the Sea is one of them. The film relies more on visuals than on a interesting story and characters. Ron HowardRon Howard is a good director, but he's not always a sure things. He does have some weaker movies and sadly In the Heart of the Sea is one of them. The film relies more on visuals than on a interesting story and characters. Ron Howard collaborates with Chris Hemsworth again after he was great in Rush in 2013. I'd be completely fine if Hemsworth replaces Tom Hanks as Howards new frequent collaborator. He was definitely one of the upsides of the movie. I have no doubt in my mind that this man is a true movie star. Cillian Murphy is also in this film and he is painfully underused considering how talented he is.

The major issue with In the Heart of the Sea is that it just does not have the characters that you can latch onto and care about. Then when the **** hits the fan later on in the film you really don't care if they live or die. I would find this film very comparable to Angelina Jolie's Unbroken from last year. Its also about 10 or 20 minutes too long.… Expand
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6
AxeTDec 23, 2015
The most obvious big remake Hollywood has yet to do that I've had in mind and talked about for years is "Moby Dick". While this isn't that but a tale of the true story that inspired the writing of that epic literary classic, it's probably asThe most obvious big remake Hollywood has yet to do that I've had in mind and talked about for years is "Moby Dick". While this isn't that but a tale of the true story that inspired the writing of that epic literary classic, it's probably as close as we'll get for a while now. With Ron Howard being behind this especially classically styled epic you'd expect it solid in craftsmanship all the way round and it is.
The image is intentionally old style and looks as if it could have been shot 60 years ago, yet was made with the latest digital cameras using all the most advanced techniques going with state-of-the-art CGI of course, which looks good. The whales are realistic if not all the sun flares and water droplets. I did particularly like the unorthodox use of yellow/greens in the picture which look lousy in TV spots for the movie, but just fine on the big screen. (I started noticing about 10 years ago that CGI in movies often does not hold up on any kind of small screen even in Full HD, while the same shots look stunning in a theatre. This is a whole issue I need to get into sometime…) I've also often stated that if "Jaws" were made today it would not be nearly the classic it was because CGI would certainly ruin it. I stand by that, but here it's great. It's a much different kind of story and with whales not one shark.
Unfortunately the film drags. It just didn't involve me despite my desire for its story and subject matter. The music score for example is stale and uninspiring as is much of the latter part of the story if anything because we've seen it before too many times and there is nothing unique here driving it. I wish they made more out of the ecological aspect that's nicely touched upon and directly connects today's world.
Overall a noble effort probably lost on today's audience.… Expand
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6
jlittle1404Apr 1, 2016
Ron Howard movies usually interest me and I was excited to see this when I first saw the trailer but this one just didn't do it for me. Good acting and decent CGI effects. Not the best Ron Howard movie. Check it out though if your sittingRon Howard movies usually interest me and I was excited to see this when I first saw the trailer but this one just didn't do it for me. Good acting and decent CGI effects. Not the best Ron Howard movie. Check it out though if your sitting around the house bored everyone likes different things.… Expand
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5
MattBrady99Dec 13, 2015
Owen Chase: "Look where we find ourselves. What offense did we give God to upset him so".

In the Heart of the Sea takes place in 1820, a whaling ship out of New England, the Essex, encountered a sperm whale that seemed to have a streak ofOwen Chase: "Look where we find ourselves. What offense did we give God to upset him so".

In the Heart of the Sea takes place in 1820, a whaling ship out of New England, the Essex, encountered a sperm whale that seemed to have a streak of human vengeance, assailing the ship and stranding the crew out in the ocean for 90 days. The true story was the inspiration for Herman Melville's classic novel, Moby Dick.

So I've just seen In the Heart of the Sea and it very disappointing. It was one of my most anticipated movie of December right next to Star wars, The Revenant and The Hateful Eight, but sadly it didn't live up to my expectations as much as I wanted it to. The trailer for the movie completely lied to us just like most trailers today, I mean the whale itself shows ups a couple of times in the movie and we stuck with characters that we don't care about.

Ron Howard can be a mix bag sometimes when it comes to his movies. Some are good, some are in the middle and some bad. But I still think he's a great director that can really bring a well crafted and brilliantly directed movie. While I thought Rush (the 2013 film with Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Brühl) was a solid movie, but it's not the type of movie I'll be re watching any time soon, but still I think it's a well directed movie and it showed that Ron Howard still got it when it comes to film making. And here he's still got that unique film making quality in him and I think he did a good job of making the audiences feel really small, and it's not just because of the whale that makes you feel small but the sea itself. But I feel like he really lost himself mid way through the movie as he really lost it's touch. The directing was good, just not brilliant as I wanted it to be.

Chris Hemsworth was really good in this movie and this is the role that he really went for it. If you haven't heard about the shocking weight loss that he did just for the movie and now that's what I call dedication right there. The same thing can be said about the rest of the cast as there wasn't a weak performance. Hemsworth's accent dose go off and on quite often, but overall all the performances from everyone were good.

The movie is basically a man vs nature type of movie which is favorite part of the movie by far.

Now for the problems: I did not give a crap about any of these characters and that's a big problem. The characters are so bland, so dull and quite unlikable. Nothing is development with the characters and the only time that I actually cared for them is around the third act. The writers try to make us care for Hemsworth character just by adding in the most cliche thing that any screenwriter can writer to his character and that's having are main hero have a pregnant wife who's at home, so he fights for survival to get back to her, but do the writers know that makes the character more basic, unoriginal and cliche. That's not going to make me automatically like the guy.

The visual effect's was another thing that was so disappointing to me, because the effect's were very noticeable at times and it's mostly the CG background. The effect's on the whale looked great but the effects for everything else was pretty bad and quite disappointing, since effect's should be better right now, but then again, I said the same thing about Transformers 4 and Fant4stic.

Overall In the Heart of the Sea was very disappointing and it could have easily been great. The characters are dull, the effect's are noticeable, it's slow at times and the cinematography doesn't quite have that epic scope that the movie wants.… Expand
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5
PipeCJan 17, 2016
Ron Howard's new dramatic invention is so confusing and complex that falls short of making a quality product. How it is actually the movie as complete ? Many ways to define this project can be used although it become countless ways. Could beRon Howard's new dramatic invention is so confusing and complex that falls short of making a quality product. How it is actually the movie as complete ? Many ways to define this project can be used although it become countless ways. Could be defined as the last work of the enigmatic director, An adaptation of the novel that inspired the classic "Moby-Dick". Could be defined as the mix between non-fiction and drama, thing that can´t be combined quite right because it loses the center point of the movie which it's fully the drama of a best-seller tragedy. Could be defined as instructive, development was incredibly slow and It seems to teach us that a whale is not just a small animal, it´s the God of the seas and for this reason the human beings should not be interested in whale oil or in any of its strong attractants, managing to create a teaching in the global fisheries mind.Could be defined as a story about the survival of a group of brave men (to the style of "The 33" they had families and wanted to either go home) led by a macho and wealthy captain George Pollard (Benjamin Walker) it as cliche would not have affinity with the role of Hemsworth (Owen Chase). Finally, Could be described as an opportunity to show the corporate ethics, where the survivors are forced to lie about what happened, fearing that the company does not cover agreed costs.
It is not exaggeration, this, manages to capture each of the previous designated items but at the same time fails nothing, What does this mean? The project director was so ambitious that to mix so many elements for achieve an award fell into the void spilling any possibility of a prestigious Academy Award. OK, "In The Heart Of The Sea" would be a quaintly dark paint with thinking philosophically of Directors as 'Steven Spielberg' or 'Werner Herzog' but Howard had a completely different view, for this reason it is that so far his best film is 'Apolo 13'.

The point of break of all the film is this, wanting to be everything at the same time the film is converted into short-movies separated in sub-genres of a central theme "A marine attack on a whaling ship" but the central point of its break is its narrative, having Melville goes to the house to interview, ask and write down what happened that day (Brendan Gleeson in the present-day scenes, Tom Holland as his younger self) for the creation of his successful book that tends to reduce his own writing to transcribe the happened on 1820s, often interrupted for memorable action scenes, for example of this the beautiful work of directing, cinematography and editing at the time of the splendid onslaught of the mammal. Sometimes this could be screenwriter Charles Leavitt's attempt to create a cinematic equivalent to Melville's tendency to interrupt his narratives with with passages and literary events that surprised us to read.

As soon as it completes the scene, feels a vacuum feel to see the result of a succession of mistakes and successes to the terrible sub-narrative. Without a doubt it's anachronistic and incoherent, the moment where the whalers if they did well to kill the whale (seriously not, It's 1820 not 2015, Mistake #1) or the bits where the afflicted whalers explain to the young Melville that the whaling industry was so successful and triumphant as today the oil industry (seriously not, Perhaps they sent you a message on Facebook or WhatsApp or you get an e-mail where you explained that a man decided to open a hole in the ground and extract a liquid called "oil", It's 1820 not 2015).

Okay, it is impossible that contemporary writers unearth their minds of the demons of present and do we immerse in the years 1820 without details of the topicaly, since it is very difficult that the facts of the past surprised for own merit. This is not to say that the old is not lucrative and amazing knowing that some of the best historical movies and TV series shine for its details and pragmatisms of the represented time.

Touches that seem to be ironically forced into cinematography - such as the character of Hemsworth, Owen Chase, Owen tries to spear the vengeful whale for the second time but freezes after staring into one of its large and curious pair of eyes, seems foolish here. Are we to believe that a man who has lasted his entire life hunting whales (for a promotion to captain) goes to cow having in his hands his life and the crew??? All is a collusion fully planned, something that water, a good body and a whale may not remedy.If another director took the mandate of the boat and the whole film would have been different.

Unquestionably, "In The Heart of the Moby-Dick" should be the title of this film, having been an interesting thriller, a disjointed film, an almost exact copy of the book of auto-help and one look wrong. How would have been this movie with another narrative? Perhaps had come out of the port? Amenably attractive exciting and inscrutable, "In The Heart of The Sea" never manages to collect its greater role.… Expand
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5
EpicLadySpongeJan 28, 2016
Lovable and decent, but it's too forgettable to be called a movie anyways. In the Heart of the Sea will be decent to those moviegoers and lovable to some people.
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4
iseenthefutureDec 31, 2015
There is only one movie to hold this or any other movie of this genre up to, and that is Jaws.
This does not come near.
I have noticed from the movies of the past 5 years that special effects are presumed excellent. Watching this movieThere is only one movie to hold this or any other movie of this genre up to, and that is Jaws.
This does not come near.
I have noticed from the movies of the past 5 years that special effects are presumed excellent.
Watching this movie will undoubtedly cause you to miss the admittedly fake shark. That shark was close and wet and salty and ferocious above all else.
This whale won't hurt mickey mouse because that doesn't happen in these cartoons.
Nothing ventured......… Expand
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4
herndonrulesJan 17, 2016
A truly great book ends up being a mediocre movie. With such a ready made story, it's shocking the film does not succeed. Because the movie spends so much time focusing on the recurring narrative technique which has Herman Melville meetingA truly great book ends up being a mediocre movie. With such a ready made story, it's shocking the film does not succeed. Because the movie spends so much time focusing on the recurring narrative technique which has Herman Melville meeting with the last living survivor of the Essex (the usually incomparable Gleeson), it loses the opportunity to character develop the two main characters on the ship. Thus, when the encounter with the whale and its aftermath ensues, the viewer has little emotionally invested in any of the survivors. Apart from spectacular visuals with the whale, the movie has little going for it in any area. Recommend the viewer invest in the book for a well told, exciting and amazing true life adventure story.… Expand
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6
FlipjeMay 25, 2021
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This movie reminded me of when I worked in catering. Everything looks appetizing, everything is basically in the right place and the decor is definitely good but when you start to look at the actual ingredients and take a bite, you feel somewhat robbed. And that's how I feel after this film. I am satisfied but still hungry, hankering for something more substantial. The actors are solid but the material itself, well, while fascinating, doesn't seem to give you more than a good long plunge into the dire straits of whale hunters. Everything felt tacked on from obvious class conflict between the ship captain and first mate. Then the hunting of the whales. That was painful to watch where at one point, I couldn't sympathize with the crew. Then, when that one mighty whale figured enough was enough, I was more on board with the beast and thought, let these buggers have their tea and come-uppance. Some died, some survived. I didn't get the impression grand lessons were learned or some moment of transcendence occurred. It was a good yarn in the main. That's about it.… Expand
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5
enoquemacielFeb 6, 2022
nice to see spider-man, thor and chitauri flying monster again! on a spin-off in this time lol
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