Director: George Tillman JR
Release Date: 2000
Running Time: 2hrs 9 minutes
Genre: Drama
Rating: 15
Format: Sky Cinema
Synopsis:
The story of Carl Brashear, the first African-American U.S Navy Diver, and the main who trained him.
Carl Brashear was the first African-American to become a U.S Navy Master Diver, rising to the position in 1970, despite having an amputated leg. Carl joined the U.S Navy on February 25th 1948, not long after the Navy had been desegregated by U.S President Harry Truman. Graduating from the U.S Navy Diving and Salvage school in 1954, Brashear became the first African-American to attend and graduate from the school. It's upsetting to know that Brashear was so mistreated whilst in the Navy, facing hostility and racism. Carl retired from the U.S Navy in 1979, as a Master Chief Petty Officer and Master Diver. Director George Tillman JR, explains Brashear's life magnificently, not only is it dramatic and inspiring, it's also highly educating for those who are not aware of his heroic actions.
Cuba Gooding Jr stars as Carl Brashear, Gooding delivers an outstanding performance, he really is sensational as Carl Brashear. Gooding not only acts the part, but looks it too, looking the spitting image of Carl. Showing deep emotion in his character, Gooding really gives the audience an insight into what life was like for Carl in the U.S Navy. The constant struggles that Brashear had to face everyday, ridicule, racism, hatred. Robert De Niro delivers a remarkably impressive performance as Master Chief Billy Sunday. Bill Sunday was forced by Mr Pappy to deliberately fail Brashear on more then one occasion, purely because of his race. Cruel and degrading, both characters really empathise the seriousness of the situation that Carl found himself in.
Charlize Theron stars as Sunday's wife Gwen, although her performance is short but sweet, she looks the part and delivers a good performance. Theron is excellent at showing her thoughts through emotion in her face, You can clearly see she's unhappy, as time goes by you have a strong understanding as to why she feels this way towards her husband. The beauty of the storyline is really seeing how determined Carl is in becoming a U.S Navy Master Diver, the determination to prove everyone wrong, especially Master Chief Billy Sunday, who is determined to do everything he can to stop him. Carl's story is not only touching, it's incredibly inspiring too. Both Brashear and Sunday find they have similar triumphs and failures.
The storyline is emotional, naturally for some audiences it does touch on sensitive subjects,in order to educate, not to cause offence. It should invoke emotion in you as well as inspire you to believe in yourself and in others that anything is possible if you are determined enough. It's unfortunate that this film is overlooked a bit and didn't do as well at the box office as it probably should have. None the less the story is magnificently and is highly influential. Powerful and emotional, De Niro and Gooding are sensational!
5/5 stars
No comments:
Post a Comment