Filmmaker Wolfgang Petersen revisits the tragedy of swordfishing boat Andrea Gail in The Perfect Storm, though the film is not without its storytelling flaws. The film marked its 25th anniversary earlier this year.

In October 1991, commercial swordfishing boat Andrea Gail returns to Gloucester with a weak catch, prompting owner Bob Brown (Michael Ironside) to taunt Captain Billy Tyne (George Clooney) about his slump. Hoping to rebound, Billy convinces his crew—Bobby Shatford (Mark Wahlberg), Dale “Murph” Murphy (John C. Reilly), David “Sully” Sullivan (William Fichtner), Michael “Bugsy” Moran (John Hawkes), and Alfred Pierre (Allen Payne)—to attempt one last late-season trip. They push far past their usual grounds as a tropical storm forms behind them. After early setbacks, the crew finds success at the Flemish Cap, but a broken ice machine forces them to dash home, unaware that converging weather fronts and a hurricane lie directly in their path.

As conditions worsen, the Andrea Gail is pummeled by massive seas. Radio warnings go unheard once a fierce gust snaps the ship’s antenna; Bobby tries to repair it but watches helplessly as it’s torn away. Captain Linda Greenlaw (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio) of the Hannah Boden sends a Mayday relay, prompting a New York Air National Guard rescue attempt. When an HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter fails a midair refueling and must ditch, its crew is later recovered by the Coast Guard cutter Tamaroa, while the Andrea Gail remains lost in the storm.

Aboard the Andrea Gail, 40-foot waves slam the deck, equipment breaks free, and the pumps can’t keep up with the flooding as families onshore wait anxiously. Billy briefly manages to turn the boat toward safety, but the storm shifts, culminating in a colossal rogue wave. They try to climb it, but the wall of water topples the vessel. Billy goes down with his ship; the others are trapped, and only Bobby surfaces before being swept away. With no survivors, Linda delivers the eulogy, later recalling Billy’s quiet reflections on the burden and pride of captaining a swordfishing boat.

Some films age gracefully. Others, not so much. While The Perfect Storm boasts an impressive cast, William D. Wittliff’s script falters in many ways—particularly in its heavy speculation and its insistence on turning real people into antagonists for dramatic effect. David “Sully” Sullivan may get a heroic moment, but his family was understandably upset with his portrayal, and it’s hard to fault them.

Interestingly, Petersen first considered his Air Force One star Harrison Ford for the role of Capt. Billy Tyne. Given that Tyne was only 37 at the time of his tragic passing at sea, casting George Clooney ultimately made more sense—even if the ER actor wasn’t the first, second, or even third choice for portraying Tyne in The Perfect Storm. Clooney and the ensemble do what they can, but the script’s issues remain unavoidable, especially in the degree to which it fictionalizes real events. In reality, the Andrea Gail had been three days into its return trip when it encountered the storm.

For all its storytelling problems, there are elements worth appreciating in The Perfect Storm—particularly the sound design and visual effects. Both earned Oscar nominations but lost to Gladiator. Instead of staging the hurricane outdoors, the production built an indoor water tank and mounted the boat on a massive gimbal inside Stage 16 on the Warner Bros. lot. You’d never guess it watching the film as the seamless blend of practical water and digital effects were genuinely impressive for 2000.

The late James Horner’s score adds another layer, built around “warm human-type themes” rather than seafaring motifs. His Americana approach lends the film a poignant undertone, especially when those themes return in the final minutes of The Perfect Storm. In bonus features, Horner mentions that Petersen’s rough cut reportedly ran close to three hours—much longer than the final 130-minute runtime. Horner’s passion for music is unmistakable, which makes his death in a 2015 plane crash feel even more tragic.

The Perfect Storm may be based on a true story, but it takes far too many dramatic liberties to truly honor the men who were lost at sea.

DIRECTOR: Wolfgang Petersen
SCREENWRITER: William D. Wittliff
CAST: George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, John C. Reilly, Diane Lane, William Fichtner, John Hawkes, Allen Payne, Karen Allen, Bob Gunton, Christopher McDonald, Dash Mihok, Josh Hopkins, Michael Ironside, Cherry Jones, Rusty Schwimmer, Janet Wright, and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio

Warner Bros. Pictures released The Perfect Storm in theaters on June 30, 2000. Grade: 3/5

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