Crimson Tide: A Submarine Drama that Strikes a Chord
Crimson Tide is set on the American warship, USS Alabama, a ballistic missile submarine in the midst of the world undergoing political turmoil. This increases tension when the sub receives contradictory orders during a mission which it has been assigned to prevent a nuclear menace in Russia. This results in a conditioning struggle between the hot-headed captain Ramsey and his XO Hunter, triggering a full-scaled struggle between both countries in the process. It is also rather suspenseful which easily shows the feeling of confinement and desperation one might feel while being at war in a submarine. After a series of films that ponder over the nature of leadership and decision making in high pressure situations. Captain Ramsey played by Gene Hackman is equally memorable portraying a tough and persistent character of a military man. Their chemistries and ideologies are a significant cause of the tension in the movie.
Tony Scott does a good job in maintaining energy, in this, his submarines sequences are intense and create an experience that puts the viewers submersed. His direction makes sure that the tension does not let up; quick cuts are followed by expanses of tension-filled scenes.
The new Hans Zimmer music is the perfect score to the movie, deepening the feeling of tension and the sense of an upcoming fight. The scenes are complemented by music that enhances the dramatic impact of the events and creates tension during the critical moments.
The shoot is brilliant and intelligent; the interiors of the submarine are shown to have low light with narrow spaces, and the outside of the submarine is shown in huge black sea depth. This work of Dariusz Wolski is to enhance the tension of the film and stress the loneliness and pressure which the crew of the sub-face.
The submarine setting in particular looks realistic and unimaginably believable. From the tight corridors to the intricate control rooms, the attention to detail reinforces the films realism and heightens the stakes of the narrative.
Despite being a mid-90s production, the special effects in Crimson Tide hold up well, effectively showcasing the intensity of underwater threats and submarine maneuvers without overshadowing the plot or characters.
Chris Lebenzons editing masterfully keeps the films pace brisk and engaging, ensuring that the narrative maintains its intense momentum. The smooth cross and trans shoot increases the tension, every scene is meaningful and important.
This move creates constant suspense and does not linger unnecessarily somewhere; it only moves to the next important scene. Certainly, the flow of events and the dialogues makes the audience to consider its position to be part of the story and feel that the fate of characters is in their hands. It may appears that the tension of the show is recounted through the characters, in every line creating a depth and development of relations between characters, which makes each conversation important for the plot. At some points the narrative over relies on the actors to deliver scenes which may not be very convincing when traced to real life situation. In addition, some characters’ secondary to the protagonist and antagonist can use further expansion in order to provide more dichotomy of the primary storyline. This caused a sensational effect of its powerful performances by the actors, the well-choreographed directions as well as the gripping and chopping narrative that are quite memorable; making it a thriller that stands out.
