Black Sea * * * 1/2

Black Sea is a submarine drama.  But this isn't about navy heroics or brave servicemen.  This is a ratbag bunch of blokes who all have ex-navy or ex-salvage experience.  They’re all out of work now and go hunting for a WWII German U-Boat that sank 70 years ago and lies on the bottom of the Black Sea - chock full of gold bars taken from the Russians.  That’s got to be worth having a crack at.  

Half the crew are Russian and half English.  They can barely communicate with one another.  As leader of the expedition Robinson, played by Jude Law (looking surprisingly tough),  gets to captain an old rust-bucket of a sub they acquire to do the job.  But don’t assume Black Sea is another gung-ho adventure film.  As most of this is shot inside the sub this is an intense, nasty, claustrophobic drama; almost like a prison drama.  The men involved do not much like or trust each other.  They have very few redeeming features and in a way that is what makes it work.  It’s uncompromising and doesn't give any character a higher sense of morality or decency.  Each of them have been poorly treated by the world (or feel that they have) and like men in prison have become hard and learnt how to look after themselves and watch their back.  This lot would be struggling to get along under the best of circumstances; but when things go wrong on the expedition…...

I don’t think you’re going to feel your heart strings being pulled much as you watch this.  With the exception of one naive lad the men are just too unlikable.  If any of them dies you’re not going to be thinking “Oh no! Not him”. But you are going to be impressed by the performances, the intensity of the drama, the suspense, and the sense of desperation.

It has it’s weak spots but overall this is a very good film and definitely worth going to see.  It’s not showing in many places.   Maybe because  its too arty and complex for the multiplexes and too manly and dirty for the art houses.