Movie Review: In the Heart of the Sea

The first thing I want to say is sorry that I am late getting this review out. We have had a very busy week and sick family to take care of. Though that tale isn't too exciting, the true story that was the inspiration for the classic novel Moby Dick definitely was. That is what today's review is on, the movie "In the Heart of the Sea", which is based on that true story.

The movie starts off following author Herman Melville (played by Ben Whishaw) finding his way to the home of a cranky old drunk sailor, Thomas Nickerson (played by Brendon Gleeson) and his wife (played by Michelle Fairley). Thomas is the last remaining survivor from the old whaling ship called the Essex, and Herman wants to hear the true story of the wreck to gather information for a book he is writing. Thomas doesn't want to talk about it, even when Herman says how much he is paying to hear it, but his wife convinces him in the hopes that he if talks about the secrets he is holding on to, he will feel better about himself. Herman hands over the money to Thomas, who then begins his long tale.

The story begins by introducing us to Owen Chase (played by Chris Hemsworth), who is an experienced whaler looking forward to being Captain on his next voyage as promised by his employers. He has dreams of making life better for his wife Peggy (played by Charlotte Riley) and child that is on the way. As he sits down with his employers, he finds out that the Essex ship he was to command will instead be captained by George Pollard (played by Benjamin Walker), as his family are the investors whose money paid for the ship to be built. George is in the hall listening to Owen get upset over this, but he eventually agrees to go on the trip. Even though George's family has had a long history in the boat building business, this will be his first time commanding a ship, and this inexperience as a captain clashes with Owen's vast experience.

The story plot had a good pace and that is always good, and hard, to find for one based on a true story. Even though it doesn't say "Based on a true story", it was taken from the true story of the Essex ship. It made me want to go and read the books and history about that sea monster of a whale.

The acting was great, and more real than most other true story movies that I've seen. I was really wondering what horrors the actors put themselves through to realistically portray their characters. I give good credits to the make-up department in this as well. They made the actors look like they really were going through tough times out to sea.

Overall, I thought that this movie was a great one to watch, and I'd recommend it for anyone that likes a good adventure movie, and even more to those people who love history and/or true stories. For these reasons I would rate this movie 9/10.