The Command

I enjoyed the film. It was beautifully shot and an engaging fictionalization of real events. The review on language missed 2 F-bombs. Otherwise, it was right on. Thanks for the reviews. ***** SPOILER ALERT ***** The end is a bummer if you are unfamiliar with the history. It does not seem like a film people would watch twice.

Production design doesn’t get much better than is seen here, right from the first screen visual you feel you’re in for something special. Writing, direction, cinematography, editing, performances, music score, effects, all add up to superior filmmaking. Beginning with Robert Moore’s book, which seeks out the human elements of a highly dramatic world marine tragedy, to its fine screen adaptation by Award winner Robert Rodat - Kursk takes the viewer to breath-taking places most would never experience (or want to) When all is examined from the Russian military/political angle, it could have been taken as certain, that rescue attempts would be on their own terms: – Humanity second, military secrets first. This important production sternly points out the importance of never cutting funds to vital military (or any life-saving equipment) The huge toll on the families left to ask questions, and survive following major loss, is sensitively examined with no details left short. Some have been unfairly critical of it being made in English language but I was grateful, negotiating subtitles in a sub would have been unbearable (where are some movie viewer’s imaginations?) It could be said that at 115mins it’s a little long for a story set mostly in a submergible, with mostly supposition to fill in the details, but it’s so imaginatively and lovingly done it continually flows with human effectiveness. Alexandre Desplat’s wonderfully rich music score adds marvelously to the emotionally charged proceedings. So much more could be said about this film but seeing it is the best way to draw your own conclusions - about the multifaceted outcomes and complex international involvements.