Search - K-19: The Widowmaker

A real-life historical incident becomes the basis for this military thriller from director Kathryn Bigelow that's reminiscent of such submarine dramas as Das Boot (1981), The Hunt for Red October (1990), Crimson Tide (1995), and U-571 (2000). Harrison Ford stars as Captain Alexi Vostrikov, a Russian naval officer who's being given command of the Soviet Union's first nuclear submarine, K-19, at the height of the Cold War in 1961. The vessel's previous commander, Captain Mikhail Polenin (Liam Neeson) has been demoted to executive officer following a botched test and his outspoken assertions that the flagship is not yet ready for deployment, but he curbs his resentment and resolves to serve his new superior well. Polenin's concerns are well founded: parts are not yet installed, equipment is missing, and the ship's doctor is killed in an auto mishap. Political pressure forces Vostrikov to sail his crew into the North Atlantic anyway, for a missile fire test that serves as a warning to the U.S. that its enemy is now its technological equal. The test is a success, but a disastrous leak in the K-19's reactor cooling system soon threatens to create enough heat to detonate the craft's nuclear payload -- which would certainly be mistaken for the first salvo in a worldwide atomic exchange and spark the beginning of World War III. With no other option, Vostrikov orders his men to repair the damage in ten-minute shifts, irradiating them hopelessly. The conflict between the seemingly bureaucratic Communist Vostrikov and the more humane Polenin escalates, until a surprising twist reveals where both officers' loyalties truly lie. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide

Harrison Ford - Captain Alexei Vostrikov
Liam Neeson - Mikhail Polenin
Peter Sarsgaard - Vadim Ratchenko
Joss Ackland - Marshal Zelentstov
John Shrapnel - Admiral Bratyeev

Though it may not have been the Harrison Ford hit that Paramount had hoped for, K-19: The Widowmaker comes to DVD with some nice results. The image, framed at the original aspect ratio of 2.35:1, is anamorphic and exceptional in every way. The subdued colors are very realistic, while the darker blacks, especially during the underwater sequences, are solid. Skin tones are immediately noticeable and are right on target. In addition, the 5.1 English Dolby Digital track is equally impressive. Directional sounds, while infrequent, are still used at precisely the right time and are very effective. Dialogue, including Ford's hit-and-miss accent, is reproduced without distortion and is clear throughout the film. As for extras, they haven't skimped. The highlight would have to be a commentary from director Kathryn Bigelow and director of photography Jeff Cronenweth; each relates their experiences and the research that was put into this project. In addition, four featurettes are also included. The longest, a 20-minute making-of, accounts for little more than a fluff piece, but still has some nice interviews with the main cast and crew and behind the scenes footage. A 12-minute look at the exacting details of accuracy for this film is also interesting, as are the shorter five-minute featurettes, one on key makeup effects and the other on the miniature effects, though they don't provide much detail. Finally, things are rounded out by the film's theatrical trailer. ~ Trent Fordham, All Movie Guide

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