Forgotten Film Friday: Black Sea

A review by Brooks Rich

Sometimes a film just goes under the radar. There is nothing wrong with the film and it should have an audience, but for some reason it is almost completely forgotten. Today we have a film that made no real splash and is perfect for exploring on Forgotten Film Friday. Let's take a look at the 2014 submarine heist movie, Black Sea.

Jude Law plays Robinson, a veteran of underwater salvage who is let go from his job with a big corporate salvage company. While drinking with his buddies, a friend tells him about a German U-boat that was sunk in the Black Sea. This U-boat was carrying gold worth millions of dollars. Robinson and some former co-workers decide to salvage the gold right out from under the nose of Robinson's former employers. But with so much money at stake, there is no honor among thieves.

I'm being vague with the plot details because I don't want to give too much away. I am surprised this film has remained a total unknown because I love the creativity of a heist underwater. Early on director Kevin MacDonald creates tension by highlighting the mistrust between the British and Russian sailors and the inherent claustrophobia of the submarine setting. There's a dirty and unsafe feel to the submarine. As an audience, we feel like it could break apart at any second.

I love a good submarine movie and one of the defining factors of a great one is the scene where they are trying to hide from an enemy. It only happens once in Black Sea, but it's an intense sequence, where they stop engines and hold still as a Russian destroyer passes overheard. It was good Macdonald chose to have one moment like this in the film because it lets the rest of the story play out and it makes this particular moment feel more tense.

The character work in Black Sea is terrific. These are not good men. They're just real. Jude Law is not an inherently bad person, but when pushed to the limit, he may be capable of certain things. I won't give anything away of course, but his character arc is a highlight of the film. Just remember, money is the root of all evil. That could be one of the taglines of this film.

I give this film a high recommendation. It's on Netflix right now. Go watch it. It's a solid film perfect for fans of submarine and heist movies. Two great things that oddly play really well together.

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