'The Finest Hours' Movie Review

Hello, fellow moviegoers!
   January is already coming to a close. There has been a slew of movies to come out this month; I’ve heard a lot of them were pretty bad. I wouldn’t know however because I try to avoid seeing bad movies, and I’ve been working on seeing this year’s Oscar contenders. However, January isn’t done with us yet, as there are three new movies getting a wide release this weekend. The Finest Hours is one of these last films January has for us.
   The Finest Hours stars Chris Pine and Casey Affleck. It is the true story of one of the most daring Coast Guard rescues in American history. This film has been dividing critics. In fact, on Rotten Tomatoes, it is sitting right on the line between Fresh and Rotten. So which is it? Does The Finest Hours manage to stay afloat, or does it sink along with most films in January?

   I was pleasantly surprised by The Finest Hours. I had almost no expectations going into this film. I don’t know what it was, but I simply could not get excited about it. I walked out of the theater having had an enjoyable experience.
   Chris Pine and Casey Affleck were both pretty great in this film. Both of their characters were simple down-to-earth people who don’t necessarily want to be in the leadership situations they’re thrown into. Both actors were able to portray that very well. Also, their accents were very believable. The rest of the cast was serviceable. They did what they were there to do, and they served their roles. But, nobody in the supporting cast was really worth noting.
   The biggest mistake this movie made was having a romance involving Chris Pine’s character be a central story. It seemed to be there simply because it could be. The romance didn’t add anything to the overall experience. If anything, it detracted from it. What should have been a minor subplot at most, was brought to the forefront and the film as a whole suffered because of it.
   All of the boat scenes were fantastic. Director Craig Gillespie did an awesome job creating an eerie atmosphere whenever they were at sea. If this film had almost solely been them at sea, then the film would have been leagues better than it was. All of these scenes were so intense, and they would keep you engaged in the film legitimately worried about these characters. I would also like to note the film's use of color. I noticed the film did a great job contrasting bright colors with the murky ones of the sea. It’s a minor detail, but it was one definitely worth noting.
   I would also like to mention the film’s title, The Finest Hours. It may not seem it at first, but it’s a terrible title. Never once in this film do they mention "fine hours", also it tells you virtually nothing about the film. I found myself completely forgetting the name of the film several times while I was watching it. I had to keep telling myself, “No, this isn’t In the Heart of the Sea”.
   Overall, The Finest Hours was a pretty good film. If you’re bored and have nothing to do this weekend, I would definitely recommend giving it a watch. It may have a forgettable title, but all of the ocean scenes are definitely worth  the price of admission. The romance in the film was a little forced, and there was way too much of it. However, Chris Pine and Casey Affleck do great jobs in their leading roles. The Finest Hours was slightly more than fine. (Pardon the pun, I couldn’t resist)
7/10

   So what did you think of The Finest Hours? Were you bothered by the forced romance? Let me know by commenting on this post! Also, if you enjoyed this review, share it on Facebook and Twitter. It really helps! Don’t forget, I post every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, so check back then for more movie reviews and other miscellaneous movie thoughts.
 
Thanks for stopping by!