A recounting of a whaling ship's sinking by a giant whale in 1820 that would inspire the great novel, Moby Dick.
At its best when chasing whales, Ron Howard's seafaring adventure is perfectly serviceable, but never next-level thrilling. For a story inspired by Moby Dick, it should be searching for something bigger.
Ron Howard engagingly reworks the story that inspired Moby-Dick, with Chris Hemsworth and Cillian Murphy among a band of shipwrecked sailors.
Overall this is a solid, respectable effort from Ron Howard but just a bit on the dull side for such a whale of a tale.
For all the special effects and half-starved A-listers, this is a sodden beast. Perhaps there’s a reason that Melville only told half the story.
Well-crafted but insufficiently thrilling adventure from Ron Howard.
In the Heart of the Sea is very prettily shot but lacks any real sense of darkness or impending doom. The film is dealing with starvation, cannibalism, insanity and death, and yet it still has the look of a picturesque travelogue in which we are seeing a painted ship upon a painted ocean.
Nothing very inspired.
Deserves to make a splash.
Ron Howard’s nautical tale boasts fine acting, but the visuals and the vengeful white whale are unconvincing.
General release. Check local listings for show times.