K-19: The Widowmaker

2 out of 5 2

Kathryn Bigelow's new film is a testosterone-heavy action thriller, avowedly based on "true events". The year is 1961, and the K-19 is the Russians' flagship nuclear sub, reputedly so unsafe that it has the nickname "widowmaker". Liam Neeson plays Captain Polenin, much beloved of his men, who finds himself demoted to number two in favour of a cold fish imposed from above by the Kremlin: Captain Vostrikov, whose tyrannical authority is tested to the limits when the sub goes into meltdown. It is an interestingly unsympathetic role for Harrison Ford, who has a bash at a Ryaahsyun aaacyent . More interestingly still, Bigelow's picture is notably kindly to the Soviets, unironically showing the troops watching a propaganda movie attacking US racism and poverty. (The politician shown in the reel, notably, is Richard Nixon, despite the fact that Kennedy was in charge.)

  1. K-19: The Widowmaker
  2. Production year: 2002
  3. Countries: UK, USA
  4. Cert (UK): 12A
  5. Runtime: 138 mins
  6. Directors: Kathryn Bigelow
  7. Cast: Harrison Ford, Joss Ackland, Liam Neeson, Tim Woodward
  8. More on this film

Mostly it's a familiar and enjoyable sub picture like The Hunt for Red October or U-571, but K-19 is fatally undermined when Harrison Ford's character has to undergo a 180-degree turn to become a good guy, and Liam Neeson's resentful attitude must also arbitrarily turn around in time for the final act. A shame, because there had been some exciting moments.

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