Deepwater Horizon (2016)

On April 20, 2010, an oil rig owned by British Petroleum exploded in the Gulf Of Mexico. It was so powerful it could be seen from outer space and killed 11 people, injured dozens more and for 87 days oil was flushed into the Gulf Of Mexico until it was capped. It was the worst oil spill disaster in U.S. history. This is the story of the why and how it happened, the people on the rig, their rescue and fate and the aftermath. Frankly, I wasn't expecting much but I was wrong. Directed by actor turned director Peter Berg, it's very well done. It's tight and economical, throwing you into the chaos, confusion and terror of the event. It's so tight and lean, in fact, that it's over before you know it. As long as the film focuses on the impending and actual disaster, it's on firm cinema ground. Where it fails is -no surprise- in the trite domestic scenes between Mark Wahlberg and Kate Hudson and their little daughter (Stella Allen). I could watch the graphic scenes like Kurt Russell pulling glass shards out of his naked body but I had to close my eyes at the sentimental father/daughter hugs. It's not the kind of film where the acting matters much but both Kurt Russell and John Malkovich stand out. With Gina Rodriguez, Dylan O'Brien and Ethan Suplee.