Kursk

The film's premise is excellent, but the execution faltered in places. I believe that entrusting the film to a different, perhaps more experienced director might have resulted in a better outcome. However, I could also be wrong. Thomas Vinterberg tackled a tragedy from recent history and presented it skillfully, but that was about it. Emotionally, it had some impact for most of its runtime, but I didn't develop a strong connection with the crew of the submarine from the perspective of a viewer. Yes, the main character was given ample screen time (it would have been surprising if he hadn’t), but this was not the case for the other members. As a creator, I might have considered giving these sailors more screen time, as they should be the focal point of the film, and also developing their characters more deeply to bring the characters closer to us. In terms of acting performances, I have no complaints; Matthias Schoenaerts did an excellent job in his role, and Max von Sydow shone in a supporting role. The film is technically well-made and feels very authentic, but don’t look for much more than that in it. I give it 66%. (2019-07-08)

We haven’t had this good of a submarine film since K-19. It's 100% impressive depressing drama... Especially when it gives the sailors and their families little hope that everything can turn out good after all. And you wish for it with them. However, probably every viewer knows how the events really played out, and that's why those scenes are so strong. Admittedly, I didn't expect much from The Command, but I ended up sitting in the movie theatre and not moving, filled with tension and feeling pretty miserable during the end credits. It is shot great (the directing and camera use the claustrophobic environment to the maximum and, for example, the quest for oxygen is unforgettable), Alexander Desplat's music did not disappoint and for me, the unknown actors - Colin Firth or Max von Sydow - give very believable performances. (2019-01-18)

A European drama about supra-multinational theme. It is true that if it was filmed by the Russians or if the actors were speaking Russian the movie would get a new dimension and it would definitely add some authenticity. On the other hand, I would be afraid that the story might end up as one big demagogy so eventually Thomas Vinterberg is for me the ideal choice. Not only he filmed the movie in a quite good way, the movie even featured some of the best European actors and therefore it was worth watching. That’s good enough for me. It doesn’t make you feel as suffocated as Das boot might and the number of explosions and special effects is lesser than if this film had been filmed by the Americans. On the other hand, there is a greater emphasis on relationships and the story line of Léa Seydoux is literally amazing. Not to mention what happened in the submarine. (2019-09-16)

The portrayal of the character of the sailors is poor and two-dimensional, even in the tense “it’s not there” moments. The portrayal of the life in a submarine and the accident is, on the other hand, brilliant. It’s dark, claustrophobic, chilling and without pathos. Vinterberg successfully reconstructs an historical event about the life and death of the sailors of a nuclear submarine and the main thing missing is, paradoxically, a bit of life and energy. (2019-04-08)

Movies about submarines usually bore me, which fortunately I can't say about The Command. Vinterberg managed to record the infamous story of a great human tragedy, for which the Russian Admiralty is to blame, quite comprehensively and very realistically. I was infinitely distressed at the thought of how all those young men must have felt as they deliberately waited for death in a badly damaged submarine. Their families, losing their last vestiges of hope with each passing hour after the accident, probably need not be mentioned. Matthias Schoenaerts fought for survival at the bottom of the Barents Sea so fiercely and convincingly that I secretly hoped for his rescue. (80%) (2021-07-01)