DEEPWATER HORIZON (2016)

Genre: Drama / Adventure
Running Length: 1:47
Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Kurt Russell, Gina Rodriguez, Dylan O’Brien, John Malkovich, Kate Hudson
Director: Peter Berg
Screenplay: Matthew Michael Carnahan and Matthew Sand, based on the article by David Rohde and Stephanie Saul

Rarely can I use "engaging" and "educational" to describe a movie but DEEPWATER HORIZON did exactly that for me. Probably due to my ignorance, I was aware of this true event but I didn't really know much about it. Dubbed as "the worst environmental disaster in American history", this movie reenacts the explosion on the BP Deep Horizon oil rig off the coast of New Orleans in April 2010.

As a result of that, 11 workers were killed and millions of barrels of crude oil were released into the Gulf of Mexico. The oil from the sea-floor gushed out and flowed for 87 days, until it was capped on July 15, 2010. I read a recent report that this deadly spill (even after more than 6 years) may not have fully "cleared up" yet and may have caused a permanent damage to the Gulf's marshes.

Although this movie is based on true events, the narrative is structured more like a disaster movie where the focus is more on the the heroism of ordinary people; very much like the recent Sully (which is still showing in the cinemas). The characters are all well established right at the start of the film.   

What I like about this movie is the build up to the destruction of the oil rig. Symbolism, choice of words, aptly used of sounds and score, and clever scenes such as the young daughter of our protagonist (played by Wahlberg) explaining the principal behind oil drilling using a can of soda - gives the movie a foreboding atmosphere. So much so when the actual explosion took place, I literally said out loud, "Oh Shit!".

If there is a downside to this movie, it is the events that followed after the explosion. There is surprisingly little suspense as characters try to escape from all the fire and carnage. And the demonization of BP in the form of John Malkovich is a little overdone. But thankfully, Malkovich's character is nicely balanced out by Russell's character as the noble captain while the rest of the cast are equally solid.

I urge you not to walk out from the cinema as soon as the movie ends because there is a dignified and fitting tribute to the 11 workers.

Rating: 8/10