Deepwater Horizon * * 1/2

Deepwater Horizon offers spectacular explosions, pyrotechnics, acts of heroism, and examples of human endurance against incredible odds.  And that’s pretty well what is wrong with it. Oh, that, and the almost incomprehensible first half which is made up of “working class” Americans speaking techno talk (usually in initialisms) in such exaggerated “authentic working class” accents you can barely make out a thing they are saying.  

From this EXT they cut to INT. WTF!. 

In 2010 a BP owned  oil rig called “Deepwater Horizon” had a terrible accident that could have been avoided, resulting in an explosion, fire, the death of eleven people and the worst oil spill in history.  (It didn’t do much for BP shares either as you can imagine).

I know there always has to be compromises but I was expecting a reasonably realistic re-telling of the story - similar to Scully perhaps.  But what they have done in Deepwater Horizon is select one member of staff, and turn him into a  fearless hero similar to the indestructible McClane in the Die Hard series. He's played by Mark Wahlberg, who I won't blame as he's probably just following Direction.

In the first half we get a pretty good impression of how these rigs operate, with people saying goodbye to the family for a few weeks, getting flown out to the rig by helicopters.  We get to know a few key crew members.  A couple of BP execs have come out to the rig too, and despite reluctance by the crew they insist a drill continues. There is all this talk about concrete blocking, and the monitoring of items (usually in initialisms), and computer screens with dials on them that turn red, gaskets leaking, rumbling and trembling then……. you guessed it.

Second half is the chaos; which is pretty spectacular with fire engulfing the whole rig, but meanwhile, we are seeing key staff on the operation deck, yelling about shutting this down and shutting that down (usually in initialisms).  Cut to exterior and it’s looking like there is nothing left of the construction, with cranes creaking and groaning and falling and huge chunks dropping off the rig and into the ocean.  And at that point you realise reality has exploded along with the rig.

Some people love this film, but personally I found it unsatisfying.  For me, it failed as both an adventure film and a reality film. Damn thing should be one thing or the other.
So to sum it up their way: BS and NQR,