Name: Retro Film Review: White Squall (1996)
Item: White Squall
Rating: 15
Author: @drax

(source: tmdb.org)

Ridley Scott doesn't seem to be particularly choosy when Hollywood studios offer him something to direct. That might explain not only genre diversity of his films, but also great variety in their quality. During his career Scott made his mark both with masterpieces and some dreadful films (like Hannibal). Some of his films also quickly vanished from people's memory, and White Squall, 1996 period coming-of-age drama, belongs to that category.

The plot of the film is based on real-life events that began in 1960. Couple of teenage boys boarded Albatross, school ship where they would spend academic year preparing for college and learning naval skills. The ship is commanded by Captain Christopher Sheldon (played by Jeff Bridges), an authoritarian determined to help boys overcoming their weaknesses, learn to act together and become men. His pupils and the crew, that includes his wife and ship's doctor Alice (played by Caroline Goodall), spend next eight months sailing around the world and encounter many adventures. But hardly anything may prepare them what awaits them at the end of their journey - "white squall", freak storm with powers to defeat even the sturdiest ships and the most experienced of seamen.

Just like any other Scott's movie, White Squall is characterised by stunning visuals. All this is most evident in the scene that depicts titular event - in the film scenes lasts for ten breath-taking minutes (which took thirty seconds in real life). Unfortunately, this event takes place near the end of film. Until that time audience must endure incredibly Todd Robinson's inept script full of cliches inspired by Dead Poets Society. In this film we could hardly care about characters, partly because of irritating deja vu effect and partly because they are all played by good-looking young men who look almost identical to each other. All of Scott's direction and beautiful images can't compensate this utter bore and audience would probably await the storm to come to their rescue. Alas, the film's problems don't stop there because the storm is followed by extra twenty or so minutes of Coast Guard hearing in which we are again treated to Robinson's pathetic attempt to milk previous hit, in this case Scent of a Woman. If someone wants to see film about real life naval disaster, Wolfgang Petersen's Perfect Storm represents much wiser choice.

RATING: 2/10 (-)

(Note: The text in its original form was posted in Usenet newsgroup rec.arts.movies.reviews on April 25th 2003)