‘Deepwater Horizon’: An Explosive Film With Powerful Performances

When I first heard about Deepwater Horizon, I was skeptical about the premise and how the crew aboard the ship, as well as BP, would be depicted. Everyone already knows the gist of the film and how we’re still feeling the ramifications of what happened aboard the Deepwater Horizon.

Tackling a film of this magnitude and subject matter, and doing so with due diligence is a mighty task. No matter how you position the film in the early stages of promotion, there are going to be people who have already made up their minds not to support the project. Not to mention how fresh the repercussions are from this disaster with it being the worst oil spill in United States history and have only recently seen a pay out from BP.

With all of that in mind, Deepwater Horizon exceeded my expectations. Not once did the film shy away from the fact that BP, and subsequently the crew, were responsible for this massive oil spill due to poor decision making. Never was the disaster blamed on the environment or elements out of their control. Every decision made by a BP official or crew member clearly led to this catastrophic event.

With that being said, the crew members did display some heroics in trying to save one another, as well as the Deepwater Horizon itself. Mike Williams, portrayed by Mark Wahlberg, led the charge and saved countless lives. Wahlberg excellently showcased Williams quick thinking skills and how at the core he was a family man who would live to see them again.

Right in tow with Williams was Caleb Holloway, wonderfully portrayed by the very talented Dylan O’Brien. Holloway courageously aided his fellow crew members and desperately tried to stop the outpouring of oil on the Deepwater Horizon, and O’Brien showcased that marvelously.

No one fought harder to keep the Deepwater Horizon afloat than Andrea Fleytas, portrayed exceptionally by Gina Rodriguez. Fleytas used all her expertise in her field to try and keep the entire rig from going under, and Rodriguez displayed her strength and determination fearlessly.

Kurt Russell and John Malkovich illustrated their fine acting skills as Jimmy Harrell and Vidrine, respectively. Harrell led his crew on the Deepwater Horizon with honesty and expertise, but against his better judgement let BP executive Vidrine call the shots. Malkovich perfectly showcased how persuasive and headstrong Vidrine could be, and how much deadlines and dollar signs impacted the decisions that led to this horrific tragedy.

Peter Berg, the director of Deepwater Horizon, accurately and honestly depicts the events of that day. With the help of Mike Williams and Caleb Holloway who were on set with cast, the story and portrayals were as precise as possible. Berg is constantly aware of the enormity of the project and didn’t hold back when it came to special effects, making the moviegoers feel as though they’re experiencing everything as it happens. At least once or twice I gasped at how real the explosions and blowouts felt.

I highly recommend Deepwater Horizon, not just for the incredible acting and exhilarating special effects, but for the story it tells. The film is well-balanced, telling the stories of the crew members on board the rig, as well as how much this catastrophe impacted the environment. This film doesn’t shy away from placing the blame on the appropriate shoulders, which put all my reservations about the film to bed. See Deepwater Horizon, then thank me later.

Photo Credit: Summit Entertainment