Tom Hanks' New FilmGreyhound: Movie Review

From the Studio:

In the early days of WWII, an international convoy of 37 Allied ships, led by captain Ernest Krause (Hanks) in his first command of a U.S. destroyer, crosses the treacherous North Atlantic while hotly pursued by wolf packs of Nazi U-boats.

First and Lasting Impressions:

I've never really been a fan of war movies in general, especially when they focus on dry tactical maneuvers, but my interest is always piqued by a good cat and mouse game, which this film delivers.

Throughout his wealth of cinematic work, Tom Hanks has proved he is the master of action with a conscience, and so I was surprisingly eager to watch Greyhound. Based on the novel The Good Shepherd by C.S. Forester, Hanks not only stars but also earned the credit of screenplay writer.

Tom Hanks’s character of Captain Krause clearly holds his faith as firmly as he commands his men, with grace, forgiveness, and an expectation of hope. Hebrews 13:8 is referenced throughout the film and gives the sense that the words are Captain Krause’s bedrock: “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever.”

Hanks commands both the drama and the ship’s bridge with such an intense presence that every eye movement and grimace reveals utterances of his thoughts and further draws you in. Much of the supporting cast is well matched to Hanks’s captain, though some characters are easy to forget past the end credits.

The love story provided an anchor and sense of home to the captain’s personal life, but felt a bit forced by the manner in which Elisabeth Shue portrayed the character. The short scenes gave just enough information to tease, but not enough to fan interest in their possible future together.

A feat in which the storytelling excels is that the film manages to insert heart in the midst of warfare without making the pause in action feel disorienting. After inevitable loss of life during combat, the grief observed feels natural and fortunately lacks disingenuous sentiment which, poorly done, has ruined war films of recent past.

Don't take your eyes off the screen. This is not a time to have your phone or tablet out to play Candy Crush or check social media while you're watching the film. The action changes quickly and small moves of the ship and commands are easy to miss.

Know Before You Go:

A word of warning to those affected by PTSD. There is a series of light flashes from the ship’s guns and scenes of explosions. However, close-ups of injuries and violence are kept to a minimum. Also, there is one use of the “F” word, but the seaman who utters it makes a quick apology to the captain.