'Crimson Tide' is the latest film from the team of Director Tony Scott and Producers Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer. Where their previous efforts ('Top Gun', 'Days of Thunder', 'Beverly Hills Cop II') are generally considered all flash and no substance, with 'Crimson Tide' they have managed to create a first rate action/drama with some genuine nail-biting suspense. Scripted by Michael Schiffer with input from several Naval officers, the film was ultimately made without the cooperation of the US Navy. This most likely worked in favor of the filmmakers, however, since authenticity doesn't seem compromised and still the film can depict a nuclear submarine crew in crisis. Not simply the crisis of battle but a crisis of ethics, a crisis of morals, a crisis of conscience. Something the Navy would never admit could happen.
The film opens with a rebellion by ultra-nationalist forces in the Russian Republic. Rebels overrun and occupy an ICBM complex in eastern Russia and a Pacific submarine base with 4 Akula class hunter/killer nuclear submarines. The United States goes on alert. The nuclear missle sub USS Alabama is dispatched to the western Pacific. The Alabama's commander is an "old school" Naval officer played by the always excellent Gene Hackman. Assigned to replace the ailing executive officer is Harvard educated Denzel Washington. While on patrol, the Alabama receives an emergency action message advising that the Russian rebels have threatened to launch ICBMs against the US and have begun fueling their missles. The Alabama is given authorization to release nuclear weapons in what would be a preemptive strike. Before the Alabama's launch, a second message is coming in but is cut off due to the attack of one of the Russian subs. Washington then wants verification of the first launch order, unsure now of what the second message contained. Hackman choses to ignore the second partial message and follow through with the launch of his nuclear missles. What follows is an exceptionally well written and acted drama about the schism that forms between the two senior officers of the sub and the crew members that choose their sides.
The majority of 'Crimson Tide' takes place in the dimly lit confines of a nuclear submarine or underwater, conditions not easily reproduced on video. The outstanding THX widescreen transfer on this new laser disc from Buena Vista Video (Hollywood Pictures), however, does a superb job of rendering this great looking film. Contrast and brightness are virtually perfect with excellent shadow detail. Colors are strong and accurate with virtually no bleeding or smearing, even in the most intense reds. Scott shot 'Crimson Tide' in anamorphic Panavision and the framing here is just about dead on 2.35:1. Scott's compositions seem to reflect the atmosphere of a submarine, cramped and closed in on all sides with extreme angles to match the attitude of the sub. As this is a rare character driven action film, seeing the reactions of the different characters on screen is important to the drama. A cropped and scanned version of this film will be next to worthless.
The soundtrack is a highly effective mix with a terrific score by Hans Zimmer. Creative use of the surround channel conveys the sense of being enclosed in a huge piece of machinery, yet can also convey that terrible silence of the deep when needed. The combination of the super clean visuals and this terrific soundtrack can make 'Crimson Tide' a wonderfully involving experience.
'Crimson Tide' runs 116 minutes and contains 33 chapters. The film is presented on three sides in CLV. Side and platter breaks are generally well placed. Though only about the last 28 minutes of the film are on side three, following the feature is pretty good featurette on the making of 'Crimson Tide'. This runs a little over 20 minutes and contains comments by the two principal stars as well as Director Scott and Producers Simpson and Bruckheimer. And following that is a fully letterboxed theatrical trailer. So, pretty good stuff for $44.95. Recommended.
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