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U-571
2000
Faithful to the conventions of the World War II genre, Mostow's (BREAKDOWN) submarine thriller pays earnest homage to the pluck and determination of ordinary people forced to overcome extraordinary odds. The mostly young and inexperienced crew of the S-33 is deployed on a top secret, high-priority mission to intercept a .. Read more
| Starring | Matthew McConaughey, Bill Paxton, Harvey Keitel, Jon Bon Jovi |
|---|---|
| Director | Jonathon Mostow |
| Genres | Action/Adventure |
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Critics' reviews (6)
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"...A rousing, old-fashioned submarine adventure....Just the right blend of adventure, action and gritty realism to keep audiences riveted throughout....A smart, slick crowd-pleaser..."
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In 1942, to frustrate the Nazis decimating the Atlantic convoys, the US Navy plans to capture a stricken U-boat -... read more on Time Out
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"...[A] well-executed tale...mixing some cinema-rumbling big bangs with plenty of screen-cinging pyrotechnics..."
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Most helpful members' reviews (3)
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13 out of 14 people found this review helpful
An entertaining movie..pity your reviewers don't read the credits!
As a movie, the challenge for the director was to produce an entertaining and gripping motion picture when at the same time the audience knows (or can guess) the outcome. Not an easy task, but this was accomplished in a commendable way. It is an action movie and the pace never lets up! I was doubtful about this at the start but I can truly say I really enjoyed it.
As for those who say that the Americans were re-writing naval history, I would say that first of all there is no claim in the movie that this was the first capture of an enigma coding machine. Secondly, before you exit form the movie, read the credits! It is dedicated to allied ships and men who captured enigma evidence. It lists in order the three British ships of the Royal Navy, starting with HMS Bulldog (a “B”class destroyer) which captured U-110 on May 9th, 1941. And yes, guys, whether you like it or not, the yanks did seize an enigma machine from U-505 on June 4th, 1944 by Task Group 22.3…but by destroyers (not a US submarine).
So yes, history was re-written, but give credit to the movie producers where credit is due for producing an entertaining movie. -
8 out of 10 people found this review helpful
Fact or Fiction - Aviod if you believe in the TRUTH!
If this film had been about a ficticious piece of radar hardware etc then it wiuld be a very entertaining and watchable film. However the facts relating to the capture of the German enigma encoder are very well documented. When a film is said to be based on a true story then it should at least be true to the facts. Another example of the Americans deluding themselves and trying to distort history. They'll be telling us next that Bletchley Park is in the Arizona Dessert!!!.
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6 out of 6 people found this review helpful
4 stars for sound 2 for accuracy
If you want to show off the sound of your home cinema and make that sub woofer bark enough to crack your walls; this is the film for you. Incredible use of surround sound and truly terrifying in the sub being depth charged.
But it ain't history. An Enigma machine was captured from a U-boat but not by the Yanks. That accolade goes to HMS Petard and two British sailors died in the attempt when the U-boat sank under them. -
Most recent members' reviews (2)
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1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
Pure Fiction
Faithful to the conventions of the World War 2 genre… is how the review starts; unfortunately it’s a shame that the filmmakers could not be as faithful to the undeniable historical truth!
Though I accept cinema as a form of entertainment; I accept the ludicrous notion of one man armies like Stallone and Schwarzenegger winning un-winnable wars, but when it comes to depicting actual events, then the producers of films such as this have a responsibility to the audience to tell it how it really was.
Artistic license is one thing, but to change history just so that a story is more palatable to an American audience is another. [palatable = profitable.] I am sure that the American audience would have accepted that some heroes from World War 2 were actually British!
If you can ignore the historical inaccuracy of this film then the production values are not too bad, they have after all put a lot of money into it. The acting talent is disappointing considering some of the names on show, and please…Jon bon Jovi…why??? Surely only the most ardent of Bon Jovi fans believe this man can actually act! -
13 out of 14 people found this review helpful
An entertaining movie..pity your reviewers don't read the credits!
As a movie, the challenge for the director was to produce an entertaining and gripping motion picture when at the same time the audience knows (or can guess) the outcome. Not an easy task, but this was accomplished in a commendable way. It is an action movie and the pace never lets up! I was doubtful about this at the start but I can truly say I really enjoyed it.
As for those who say that the Americans were re-writing naval history, I would say that first of all there is no claim in the movie that this was the first capture of an enigma coding machine. Secondly, before you exit form the movie, read the credits! It is dedicated to allied ships and men who captured enigma evidence. It lists in order the three British ships of the Royal Navy, starting with HMS Bulldog (a “B”class destroyer) which captured U-110 on May 9th, 1941. And yes, guys, whether you like it or not, the yanks did seize an enigma machine from U-505 on June 4th, 1944 by Task Group 22.3…but by destroyers (not a US submarine).
So yes, history was re-written, but give credit to the movie producers where credit is due for producing an entertaining movie.
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13 out of 14 people found this review helpful
An entertaining movie..pity your reviewers don't read the credits!
As a movie, the challenge for the director was to produce an entertaining and gripping motion picture when at the same time the audience knows (or can guess) the outcome. Not an easy task, but this was accomplished in a commendable way. It is an action movie and the pace never lets up! I was doubtful about this at the start but I can truly say I really enjoyed it.
As for those who say that the Americans were re-writing naval history, I would say that first of all there is no claim in the movie that this was the first capture of an enigma coding machine. Secondly, before you exit form the movie, read the credits! It is dedicated to allied ships and men who captured enigma evidence. It lists in order the three British ships of the Royal Navy, starting with HMS Bulldog (a “B”class destroyer) which captured U-110 on May 9th, 1941. And yes, guys, whether you like it or not, the yanks did seize an enigma machine from U-505 on June 4th, 1944 by Task Group 22.3…but by destroyers (not a US submarine).
So yes, history was re-written, but give credit to the movie producers where credit is due for producing an entertaining movie. -
8 out of 10 people found this review helpful
Fact or Fiction - Aviod if you believe in the TRUTH!
If this film had been about a ficticious piece of radar hardware etc then it wiuld be a very entertaining and watchable film. However the facts relating to the capture of the German enigma encoder are very well documented. When a film is said to be based on a true story then it should at least be true to the facts. Another example of the Americans deluding themselves and trying to distort history. They'll be telling us next that Bletchley Park is in the Arizona Dessert!!!.
-
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful
4 stars for sound 2 for accuracy
If you want to show off the sound of your home cinema and make that sub woofer bark enough to crack your walls; this is the film for you. Incredible use of surround sound and truly terrifying in the sub being depth charged.
But it ain't history. An Enigma machine was captured from a U-boat but not by the Yanks. That accolade goes to HMS Petard and two British sailors died in the attempt when the U-boat sank under them. -
5 out of 6 people found this review helpful
Worth a Watch
Ignore the 'how the american's won the war' and sit back and enjoy a pretty good WWII movie. Good acting (I'll even give Jon Bon Jovi a few marks), and some good submarine scenes, not quite on par with Crimson Tide but good none the less. Give it a go....
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4 out of 4 people found this review helpful
By-the-numbers fantasy
On the surface all the essential elements seem to be there: big names, strong story, good script, sound acting, lots of action, half decent special effects etc. Viewed as a piece of fiction this movie is a watchable romp. Sadly, there are glaring inaccuracies in this historical adventure which could almost be forgiven were it not for the fact that the deeds of great men and women are airbrushed from history in order to turn in little more than an average finished product. Disappointingly predictable in parts, it did hold my attention to the end. Despite the ridiculous swaggering of some characters this movie is saved by its leading men, the ever versatile Bill Paxton and the talented AND gorgeous Matthew McConaughey. If you like action and adventure on the high seas (or you just fancy McConaughey) you'll love this film. Not recommended for anyone who is expecting to watch an accurate account of the WWII Enigma story though.
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4 out of 4 people found this review helpful
Once again, how the US 'won the war' ... this time at sea
A novel tale with some 'interesting' views of 'submariners/submarine life'. These WWII US subs must have had more space than some of today's SSBN's, be they US, UK or USSR's (as was) or was it 'movie-maker's licence'.
Credit must given however to the short but telling mentions at the end of the movie when due respects are paid to the real captors of the Enigma. -
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful
Pork Pies
If you like complete and utter lies, this completely Americanised story leads on from Saving Private Ryan where there was no English in world war 2. It is a good story if you can stop laughing at it long enough though. By all means watch it but be prepared.
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3 out of 3 people found this review helpful
U- 571 - ouch!
Not so much bad as embarrassing. So much so that my family made excuses and left one by one before the end leaving me praying for an early tsunami. The plot points could not have been more obvious had the actors looked at the camera and held up flip chart. If anyone remotely connected to U-571 ever reads this I would love to know who they had in mind at its inception. You would only need an extra 15 minutes of filming cut back into the rushes to make an excellent spoof; ‘U-Bend’
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2 out of 3 people found this review helpful
Only in America
A decent movie, and more than watchable, but it falters so much from the facts that it can't be taken too seriously.
But that is what we have come to expect from Hollywood these days. -
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful
War Films
Im not much of a war films person primarily cos you know whats gonna happen... U571 is different yeah its about the war and about how it all happend but this film depicts a small part in what was a massive war. However this small Operation that was undertaken changed the balance.
Following the lives of sailors chasing after the germans inigma machine you watch as they barely escape.
Fantastic film enjoyed watching!
Critics' reviews (6)
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"...A rousing, old-fashioned submarine adventure....Just the right blend of adventure, action and gritty realism to keep audiences riveted throughout....A smart, slick crowd-pleaser..."
-
In 1942, to frustrate the Nazis decimating the Atlantic convoys, the US Navy plans to capture a stricken U-boat -... read more on Time Out
-
"...[A] well-executed tale...mixing some cinema-rumbling big bangs with plenty of screen-cinging pyrotechnics..."
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"...[The film] gets high marks for tension and excitement. The action sequences are bracing and involving..."
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"...Excitingly taut and kinetic....Leaps from one suspense gambit to the next..." -- Rating: A-
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"...[A] smooth white-knuckler....It's a simple pleasure to watch..."
Buy from the LOVEFiLM shop
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U-571 - BLU-RAY Version
Faithful to the conventions of the World War II genre, Mostow's (BREAKDOWN) submarine thriller pays earnest homage to the pluck and determination of ordinary people forced to overcome extraordinary odds. The mostly young and inexperienced crew of the S-33 is deployed on a top secret, high-priority ...
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U-571
Faithful to the conventions of the World War II genre, Mostow's (BREAKDOWN) submarine thriller pays earnest homage to the pluck and determination of ordinary people forced to overcome extraordinary odds. The mostly young and inexperienced crew of the S-33 is deployed on a top secret, high-priority ...
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