U-571

DIVE! DIVE!
Review by Nonia Bidness

I will probably be accused of some sort of sexist attitude for this review, but I am not a sexist. I do admit to playing on the stereotypes in this case, however....this is a guy movie!

Admittedly, you guys aren't going to read my review to see whether or not you should go see this flick! But if you are wondering whether to coerce your girlfriend or wife into going with you to this one on your evening out, well, forget it! Matthew McConaughey looks lean and mean and I hardly even thought about what he looked like playing the bongos naked and drunk in his house in Austin... but I digress. Neither the cast nor the acting are the strengths. I am embarrassed to say that we never even noticed Jon Bon Jovi in the movie, he was so well disguised as just another sailor!

I can be amused by action and suspense, and that's what I thought this movie was going to offer. To me, the previews hinted of a little more intrigue and a more crafty plot, requiring our guys to be able to fool some Germans into thinking they were Germans too... so they could carry out their mission. Well, it really was more of a blow things up and shoot people movie, die for the cause and be a brave leader, always act like you know what you are doing even when you don't sort of thing. Not that the values espoused were not admirable, it was just a bit too clichéd. Sure, it had suspense and excitement (how are they going to make it out of this mess?!). And they kept on making it out of each successive mess, even though the odds were astronomical.

"U-571" shows the story elements that are standard in all sub movies: The subs can be hammered, battered, shelled, depth-bombed and squeezed by pressure, and have leaks, weak batteries and inoperable diesel engines - but in the heat of action, everything more or less somehow works. Better than the screenplay, anyway.

Where the film really fails is with the character development of the American sailors. The crew are just interchangeable guys in uniform and its really hard to tell one sailor from another. There are a few times where the film gives threadbare hints of characterization to some of the roles, but no one really stands out.

My husband was more enthralled by the explosions and military stuff. I didn't expect that I was going to be thrilled by this movie, but I did think I would like it more than I did. I was squirming during the tightly suspenseful moments, just like everyone else, but there were major flaws in this movie. I think I don't have a high enough testosterone level to overlook them very well. Far from the worst movie I've ever seen (maybe not very far, but far, anyway). I think the movie meant well, at least.

It’s a guy flick! So, get your buddies to go with you and give your female companions a break.

Pros: very suspenseful at times
Cons: big holes in story (why did they blow that ship up?
Bang for the Buck: Go to the half-price matinee
Movie Mood: Action Movie
Recommend to friends? No

Nonia Bidness April 27^th, 2000