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CLIPS MOVIE REVIEW
by Roger Tennis
THE FINEST
HOURS
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.
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