CLIPS MOVIE REVIEW
by Roger Tennis

RATED PG-13 (intense sequences of peril)

RUNNING TIME: 117 minutes
DIRECTOR: Craig Gillespie

STARS:
Chris Pine - Bernie Webber
Casey Affleck - Ray Sybert
Holliday Grainger - Miriam
Eric Bana - Daniel Cluff
Ben Foster - Richard Livesey

SYNOPSIS:
On February 18, 1952, a massive nor’easter struck New England, pummeling towns along the Eastern seaboard and wreaking havoc on the ships caught in its deadly path, including the SS Pendleton, a T-2 oil tanker bound for Boston, which was literally ripped in half, trapping more than 30 sailors inside its rapidly-sinking stern. As the senior officer on board, first assistant engineer Ray Sybert soon realizes it is up to him to take charge of the frightened crew and inspire the men to set aside their differences and work together to ride out one of the worst storms to ever hit the East Coast. Meanwhile, as word of the disaster reaches the U.S. Coast Guard station in Chatham, Massachusetts, Warrant Officer Daniel Cluff orders a daring operation to rescue the stranded men. Despite overwhelming odds, four men led by Coast Guard Captain Bernie Webber set out in a wooden lifeboat with an ill-equipped engine and little, if any, means of navigation, facing frigid temperatures, 60-foot high waves and hurricane-force winds. -Walt Disney Pictures

ROG'S VIEWPOINT: 3 CAMS
Good performances and some spectacular special effects breathe a little life into this predictable true-life thriller. While none of the characters are fully fleshed-out, Chris Pine and the rest of the cast make the story believable. The movie gets off to a slow start with a budding romance between Pine's Bernie and Holliday Grainger's Miriam. While there's a bit of chemistry between them, this plot point only manages to bring the action to a grinding halt. The last third of this film provides the moments worth seeing - cutting to the chase through a violent storm for a chilling rescue attempt. The 2D version is acceptable, but the immersive 3D draws the audience into the frigid landscapes and stormy seas. Without the added romantic fluff, this could have been a compact and exciting experience. "The Finest Hours" still provides enough interest to keep it afloat.