Genre: Action, Drama
Rating: PG-13
U.S. Release Date: September 30, 2016
Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Kurt Russell, John Malkovich, Gina Rodriguez, Dylan O’Brien and Kate Hudson
Directed by: Peter Berg
Synopsis
On April 20th, 2010, one of the world’s largest man-made disasters occurred on the Deepwater Horizon in the Gulf of Mexico. The film follows a story that many have not seen: the story of the 126 crew members working aboard the Deepwater Horizon that day, faced with an unstoppable inferno blaze in the middle of the ocean.
Mark Wahlberg stars as Mike Williams, the Chief Electronics Technician of the Deepwater Horizon. Says Wahlberg, “I play a rig worker who was an ordinary guy who had to do extraordinary things — not only to survive, but to help others in a moment of overwhelming disaster. For me that’s an extremely compelling story to tell. It’s something I find very inspiring and those are the kinds of movies I most enjoy making and seeing.”
The ultra deep-water drilling rig off the Louisiana coast — the Deepwater Horizon – riveted the world as it experienced a devastating blowout, fire and nearly unstoppable ocean floor oil leak. For 87 days millions watched as more than 50,000 barrels of oil a day gushed from the sea floor into the Gulf of Mexico. It would become the largest accidental ocean oil spill in human history. This never before seen story of the survivors takes us back to that horrific day.
Sad but True
The initial blowout killed 11 men who were never found, critically injured others and sparked an evacuation of men and women trapped amid roiling mud and fire. After two days of searing flames, the remains of the Deepwater Horizon sank 5000 feet to the ocean floor, leaving the well gushing and ultimately releasing, according to government estimates, 4.9 million barrels of oil.
The real Mike Williams, who consulted on the film, says the commitment of Wahlberg and the filmmakers to the reality of what he went through was gratifying: “The cast and crew captured all the elements of what happened that were important to me, other survivors, and the widows of the deceased. My biggest goal and ultimate drive that made me want to be part of this project is that we honor these eleven men and what they did every day. “
Kandy Says
Solid cast, great director, a riveting story. A movie definitely worth seeing but may be best waiting for On-Demand where you can watch from the comforts of home.
Photo Credit: David Lee
