Crimson Tide (1995)

Gene Hackman and Denzel Washington crackle onscreen in Crimson Tide as the wiry pitbull of a veteran captain and the cool scholar of a rookie executive officer, together commanding a U.S. nuclear submarine sent to the brink as (for all they know) the last and sole defense against Russian missiles in a global cold war flareup. The navy command protocols are crisp and lend an initial air of authenticity, however, the plot gradually devolves into a miasma of quibblesome questions. (Can everyone really smoke so much on a submerged nuclear sub? How can a kitchen fire get so out of control? Is the captain's dog allowed to pee in the corridor?) Of course the big gorilla question is: How can a nuclear sub have only one radio to receive and confirm its nuclear-launch commands? (Only slightly less urgent: Could Denzel inspire the comm officer to fix the radio faster -- though, of course, just in the nick of time -- without making Star Trek analogies?) Granted, the plot requires severed communications if you want two commanding officers to feud, wrangle, mutiny, and countermutiny (not to mention engage in subterfuge and fisticuffs) over a conflicting interpretion of their orders esp. when a use-them-or-lose-them first-strike missile launch would tip the scales into nuclear Armageddon. So just close your eyes to that first "if" and enjoy the onscreen fireworks of the ensuing "then." Crimson Tide is really about doing one's duty and following orders -- unflinchingly if not always unthinkingly. Don't miss the low-key performances of Viggo Mortenson as Denzel's fairweather friend and weapons officer plus James Gandolfini and Rick Schroder as two lieutenants. And, lest we forget Denzel's homefront motivation to do his duty so well, his kids are cute as buttons. 4 stars. (12-12-08)