Why do these true stories always get so emotional and importance to the material that’s given? The story of what happened on the Deepwater Horizon feels so intense even while visualizing it right now. Everybody remembers that this was the biggest oil spill disaster in U.S. history back in 2010. Not only does Peter Berg know to make an impactful survivor story, but also has a powerful punch to everything leading up to it having to depict and convey these real-life events.
As a tale of heroism and survival, Deepwater Horizon is a heavy hitter that’s absolutely gripping. It’s so surreal when everything hits the fan unexpectedly, it’s so non-stop until the end. The scale of this is so incredible just seeing this rig engulf in flames making it look very scary, which should be praised by Berg’s directing. This feels very realistic in a true sense almost feeling like yourself is trying to get out of this. Everything on a technical aspect from the visual effects and the flawless sound design as brilliant.
Performances are hands down perfect. Mark Wahlberg delivers a daring performance as Mike Williams to seeing him as this everyman who has a family and you deeply care if he does live throughout all of this trying to get everybody off. The family aspect of the film was a part that didn’t feel forced as it was something I carried about. This isn’t the first collaboration between Berg/Wahlberg with the underrated war film, Lone Survivor and the upcoming Patriots Day. Not only did Wahlberg provided riveting roles, Kurt Russell, John Malkovich and Gina Rodriguez also gave outstanding performances.
For some reason, it‘s also pretty scary just thinking what would happen if someone watching it would be in that situation. The development the characters are well handled just like Lone Survivor to where you deeply care about these characters hoping they would survive at the end of all this. This is a narrative structure story that’s been played out in situations like this and isn’t really anything new to justify something groundbreaking but it did work after all.
Deepwater Horizon is pivotal to how anybody could’ve survived this situation and how someone doesn’t know how to handle this that’s totally unexpected. Berg is usually hit-or-miss for me as he does a great movie like Lone Survivor or something terrible like Battleship. With two for two movies based on events in a row makes him established director to trust now with this kind of material. As this is a disaster movie, this is one of the best to come out in years that made me care about what’s happening on screen. It just shows a greater theme of bravery giving a solid tribute to the people who died on this horrifying day showcasing heroism on a deep level of intensity that can’t be forgotten after six years.
Deepwater Horizon brilliantly brought a tension-filled, heart pounding, and gripping disaster that captures everything near perfect.
Grade: B+
DC's Take 