Deepwater Horizon: Movie Review

Deepwater Horizon will upset you.

The Mark Wahlberg film will get under your skin. It's important and upsetting. For the first time, global audiences will witness the BP oil rig disaster on the big screen. Told from the perspective of the 126 souls on board, Deepwater Horizon offers moviegoers a glimpse at the negligence that led to the death of 11 crewmembers.

Our entrance into this story--that dominated the 2010 news cycle--is Mike Williams, the chief electronics technician on Deepwater Horizon. When a devastating blowout collapses the rig off the coast of Louisiana, Williams and the crew battle raging fires to escape the exploding rig.

The incident caused the worst oil spill in U.S. history and led to massive environmental and economic fallouts. But, the story we haven't really heard is how it destroyed lives. Williams, soundly played by Wahlberg, is forever changed by the traumatic experience, as were his crewmates.

Gina Rodriguez, Kurt Russell, John Malkovich, and Kate Hudson play supporting roles in the retelling of this epic man-made disaster. Each lends real humanity and authentic emotion to this explosive action movie.

Rated PG-13 for prolonged intense disaster sequences and related disturbing images and brief strong language, Deepwater Horizon warrants caution. You'll see blood, exposed bones and men burning and dying. A moment of faith when the crew kneels down and says the Lord's Prayer makes for an impactful scene.

This action/drama from director Peter Berg (Lone Survivor) is slow in parts and has quite a bit of foul language. But, it's a compelling film that honors true heroism and shows the deadly consequences of corporate greed and neglect. Deepwater Horizon is a thrill ride of a story that doesn't lose sight of its humanity.