The Perfect Storm

Directed by Wolfgang Petersen, The Perfect Storm follows a group of fisherman, including George Clooney’s Billy, Mark Wahlberg’s Bobby, and John C. Reilly’s Murph, as they find themselves caught up in a deadly nor’easter. Filmmaker Petersen, armed with William D. Wittliff’s screenplay, delivers an appealingly old-school drama that boasts a whole host of engaging, attention-grabbing elements, as the picture’s increasingly compelling atmosphere is heightened by its raft of compelling performances and smattering of electrifying sequences – with, in terms of the former, Clooney’s commanding turn certainly matched by eclectic, scene-stealing periphery players like William Fichtner, Bob Gunton, John Hawkes, and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio. And while the movie’s 130 minute running time admittedly results in a few narrative lulls, with this particularly true of a final third that can’t help but feel a little repetitive, The Perfect Storm builds towards a heartwrenching final stretch that packs a far more pronounced emotional punch than one might’ve anticipated – with the final result an entertainingly classical endeavor that could (and should) have been streamlined considerably (eg the subplot involving several National Guard rescuers isn’t exactly enthralling).

*** out of ****