Roll Tide! Like American Gangster I am surprised I waited so long to write about this film. This is another one of my all time favorite movies and the perfect kickoff to Tony Scott month. There's two submarine movies in the running for the greatest of all time, Das Boot and Crimson Tide. Das Boot is a brilliant film and I'll get to it today. But today we look at Crimson Tide, not only one of Tony Scott's absolute best films, in my opinion it is his best film, but also a showcase for two of the greatest actors of all time. This film is of course led by the legendary Gene Hackman and Denzel Washington, two actors known for being the biggest presence on screen. Here they are going toe to toe as they try to gain dominance.
Crimson Tide takes place on the USS Alabama, a nuclear submarine on high alert as radicals in Russia threaten to take over the country and compromise the Russian nuclear arsenal. Hackman is captain Ramsay, the nonsense leader of the Alabama and Washington is Hunter, his executive officer. The two form a shaky respect for each other which falls apart after they receive orders to launch a nuclear strike on Russia. Things come to head though when an incoming message is interrupted Ramsay and Hunter disagree over its possible meaning. Ramsay wants to carry out their orders; Hunter thinks they need to wait and get clarification. What follows is a ship falling apart as the chain of command fails.
It's the showdown between Hackman and Washington that is the main draw of this movie. The second they disagree the tension in the sub is palpable even on screen. The scene where Washington refuses to acknowledge the message so Hackman can't launch is as good as it gets. You could see it on the faces of the actors. Things are falling apart. From there the battle lines are drawn.
This is one of those films where the cast has become incredible over time. Alongside Washington and Hackman we have Viggo Mortensen, Steve Zahn, Jason Robards, Rick Schroeder, and the immortal James Gandolfini. Tony Scott always had an eye for talent and several of his films have casts that have gone on to be stacked as the then unknowns make names for themselves. See also Enemy of the State.
This does not look like a typical Tony Scott film. It's the only film where a majority is in an enclosed space. We feel like we are on the submarine with the crew. Most directors would just tilt the camera and leave it at that. Simulate the feel of a submarine through just the camera angles. . That's not how Tony Scott rolls. The set was built in such a way as to simulate what it would be like on a submarine. If the actors are walking at an angle, that's because the set is at an angle. It makes it feel authentic, especially in the scenes in the bowels of the ship. It also doesn't hurt that legendary film composer Hans Zimmer creates one of his best scores for this movie. My god this movie's soundtrack is incredible.
There's a reason I'm starting Tony Scott month with this film. Go see this movie. I truly believe it is not only one of his best films but also one of the best films of the '90s. It has to be considered in Tony Scott's top five films of all time. It is also a strange outlier in his filmography, especially of the time. We'll explore that more when we get into the editing he became known for later. But for now, see Crimson Tide. If you already have, see it again. Roll Tide!
Crimson Tide takes place on the USS Alabama, a nuclear submarine on high alert as radicals in Russia threaten to take over the country and compromise the Russian nuclear arsenal. Hackman is captain Ramsay, the nonsense leader of the Alabama and Washington is Hunter, his executive officer. The two form a shaky respect for each other which falls apart after they receive orders to launch a nuclear strike on Russia. Things come to head though when an incoming message is interrupted Ramsay and Hunter disagree over its possible meaning. Ramsay wants to carry out their orders; Hunter thinks they need to wait and get clarification. What follows is a ship falling apart as the chain of command fails.
It's the showdown between Hackman and Washington that is the main draw of this movie. The second they disagree the tension in the sub is palpable even on screen. The scene where Washington refuses to acknowledge the message so Hackman can't launch is as good as it gets. You could see it on the faces of the actors. Things are falling apart. From there the battle lines are drawn.
This is one of those films where the cast has become incredible over time. Alongside Washington and Hackman we have Viggo Mortensen, Steve Zahn, Jason Robards, Rick Schroeder, and the immortal James Gandolfini. Tony Scott always had an eye for talent and several of his films have casts that have gone on to be stacked as the then unknowns make names for themselves. See also Enemy of the State.
This does not look like a typical Tony Scott film. It's the only film where a majority is in an enclosed space. We feel like we are on the submarine with the crew. Most directors would just tilt the camera and leave it at that. Simulate the feel of a submarine through just the camera angles. . That's not how Tony Scott rolls. The set was built in such a way as to simulate what it would be like on a submarine. If the actors are walking at an angle, that's because the set is at an angle. It makes it feel authentic, especially in the scenes in the bowels of the ship. It also doesn't hurt that legendary film composer Hans Zimmer creates one of his best scores for this movie. My god this movie's soundtrack is incredible.
There's a reason I'm starting Tony Scott month with this film. Go see this movie. I truly believe it is not only one of his best films but also one of the best films of the '90s. It has to be considered in Tony Scott's top five films of all time. It is also a strange outlier in his filmography, especially of the time. We'll explore that more when we get into the editing he became known for later. But for now, see Crimson Tide. If you already have, see it again. Roll Tide!
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