Firstly, I'd just like to say that this is my first review, and that advice is very welcome.
I'll assume that anyone reading this review is aware of the debate that has sparked up over the "historical accuracy" of U-571. However, if I can put aside those arguements for just a moment to look at the film itself. The film is based on a fictional account of a raid by American Submariners to capture the top secret German Enigma coding machine. Facing almost certain death, not to mention the German Navy, at every turn, the crew navigate the eponymous submarine through the North Atlantic to bring the Enigma Machine to allied territory. The special effects are spectacular, the acting good, and, while it's no Das Boot, the film presents a genuinely tense atmosphere suitable for a submarine in the battle of the Atlantic. The depth charging sequence is particularly exciting (is a little cliched), and the film even manages to provoke an emotional response some way in, although I won't spoil it for those who have yet to see it! Inevitably, however, I must return to the debate I mentioned earlier. For many people, the amount of enjoyment that can be gained from this film comes down to whether you can forget the dubious history. As I see it, the arguements for and against are as follows:
Against: 1. The film is based loosely on an actual event, the capture of U-110 by HMS Bulldog, but replaces British Sailors with American ones. 2. Other, more minor, historical inaccuracies exist (like that by the time, there were virtually no German destroyers left, and those that were would not dare travel unescorted out to sea). 3. If you're British, repeat no. 1.
For: 1. Its just a film, not a documentary. 2. At the end, it acknowledges that it was infact the Royal Navy that first captured an Enigma machine from a U-boat. 3. An argument that is often overlooked: How is what the Americans do in this film any different from what Britain did after World War Two? After all, how many Britons know that the first Enigma machine was captured and cracked by the Poles before the war even started? Exactly.*
Ultimately, if you are able to forgive U-571's debatable historical accuracy, you'll get a lot of enjoyment from it. Otherwise, if you feel that Hollywood had no right to 'alter history', steer clear.
*I am aware that this is not exactly the same thing as the American rewriting of history (See comments). However, the point I was making is that it is rather hypocritical to complain about a film which portrays a British victory as an American one, when the truth is that many people see a Polish/British victory as a purely British one, even though the American 'take on history' is a far greater deviation from the truth than the denial of a Polish contribution.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Production Year: 1964 - Action/Adventure - Director: Cyril Endfield - Original Language: English - Classification: Parental Guidance - Starring:Stanley Baker, Jack Hawkins, Ulla Jacobsson, James Booth, Michael Caine, Nigel Green
Production Year: 2002 - Action/Adventure - Director: Vincenzo Natali - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring:Lucy Liu, David Hewlett, Anne Marie Scheffler, Joseph Scoren, Matthew Sharp, Jeremy Northam
Production Year: 1977 - Action/Adventure - Director: Clint Eastwood - Original Language: English - Classification: 18 years and over - Starring:Clint Eastwood, Sondra Locke, Pat Hingle, William Prince, Bill McKinney
Great new op, bit more about the film next time though please!!
pauljm 05.10.2001 11:19
Hi and welcome to Ciao. A good first opinion that presented a well balanced view on the debate surrounding the historical accuracy. One minor point of disagreement on your analysis; you compare the British ignorance of Polish involvement in the Enigma story to the rewrting of history that this film involves. While it is true that the British have generally ignored the earlier contributions from Polish intelligence, they have not produced a film that claimed the activities were carried out by British rather than Polish agents, merely ignored that part of the story. The act is of omission whereas this film is a positive rewriting of history. Good luck with your future writings, Paul.
GraingerN 05.10.2001 08:03
I saw the film earlier this year with a friend, and despite being very dramatic and heart-rendering in parts found it both very educating and enjoyable. Nichola
If you've never seen a submarine drama before, thenU-571will probably make a good ... more
impression as a tautly choreographed piece of entertainment. A strong cast led by Matthew McConaughey's sympathetic Lt. Tyler undertakes a perilous mission to seize a Ger...
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If you've never seen a submarine drama before, thenU-571will probably make a good ... more
impression as a tautly choreographed piece of entertainment. A strong cast led by Matthew McConaughey's sympathetic Lt. Tyler undertakes a perilous mission to seize a Ger...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
If you've never seen a submarine drama before, thenU-571will probably make a good ... more
impression as a tautly choreographed piece of entertainment. A strong cast led by Matthew McConaughey's sympathetic Lt. Tyler undertakes a perilous mission to seize a Ger...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
A U.S. Navy captain and his crew are just beginning to enjoy 48 hours of leave when they ... more
receive word to immediately return to duty. On a top-secret assignment they must disguise themselves as Nazis and infiltrate a severely damaged Nazi U-boat. Once ...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
If you've never seen a submarine drama before, thenU-571will probably make a good ... more
impression as a tautly choreographed piece of entertainment. A strong cast led by Matthew McConaughey's sympathetic Lt. Tyler undertakes a perilous mission to seize a Ger...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
![U-571 [DVD] [2000]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/78522839.jpg "U-571 [DVD] [2000]")
![U-571 [DVD] [2000] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/69887853.jpg "U-571 [DVD] [2000] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]")
Oct 4th, 2001
(Oct 9th, 2001)
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