K-19: The Widowmaker

Review by Clint Morris

Had he originated the role of Jack Ryan – the character he played in Tom Clancy’s Patriot Games and Clear and Present Danger – Harrison Ford would have already had the chance to star in a submarine thriller.

But Harrison didn't do The Hunt for Red October, and from all indications he would have liked to.

K-19: The Widowmaker is Harrison making up for lost opportunities, it’s just a pity he had to take audiences to the bottom of the sea with him...

Part character study, part submarine thriller, K-19: The Widowmaker takes a long-hidden slice of Soviet history and turns it into a tired, lacklustre film.

Set in 1961, when the Cold War was in full swing and the Soviets struggle to catch up in the Nuclear stakes, K-19 centres on the rush to get a top-secret nuclear sub into duty, even after a test run proves pretty conclusively that the ship isn't ready.

Captain Polenin (Neeson) is adamant that he won’t put his men in danger, so he’s instantly demoted to executive officer, and taking his place is the politically-aspiring Captain Vostrikov (Harrison Ford).

Just when it looks like Polenin and Vostrikov might actually get along, our Captain decides to launch the sub – which they’ve since discovered is rather worn - ultimately leaving Polenin whinging for justice.

Stir in subplots about a draftee assigned to handle the nuclear reactor, a freak accident that kills the ship's doctor and a bungled christening – and it’s an early sign this sub’s not going to be set for smooth sailing.

K-19: The Widowmaker, even with it’s admirable camera-work and slick sets, is one of the poorest film’s of Harrison Ford’s career. While most of his films of late have been reasonable to say the least – most of K-19 is actually woeful.

Starting with the accent, Ford’s supposed to be a Russian, and from the film’s first few minutes it’s apparent he’s failed to pull off the voice. It uneasily flows between Yank and Russian – and pathetically at that. Liam Neeson, although notably better, is also rather unresponsive in his could-have-been credible turn.

While K-19 want’s you to be drawn into it’s tale of valour and calamity, director Kathryn Bigelow fails to make any connection with it’s audience, deciding to spend more time on wearisome detail and set-paint than entertainment for it’s audience. In turn, ruining any chance the film might have had.

Never did I think we’d see the day when Jon Bon Jovi would outdo Harrison Ford, but if you’ve seen U-571 you too will agree that film stayed afloat a lot longer than this sinking marauder.

2 out of 5

K-19: The Widowmaker
Australian release: Thursday November 7
Cast: Harrison Ford, Liam Neeson, Sam Spruell, Peter Stebbings, Christian Carmago, Joss Ackland .
Director: Kathryn Bigelow.
Website: Click here

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