Last Breath

I watched it. I was shocked by it. Seeing all the technology and things they do just to get to the bottom of the sea. It seems as complicated as going to the moon. It's really impressive and hard working. For me, I would have just not have bothered. Lol. Technology would be behind with me on charge. It seems so intense and scary to do that kind of work. Especially in dangerous seas. The scenes were intense and driven with hopes and fears. It's really something to see people work together and depend on each other. I think the only thing this movie is lacking is it felt too short, like it needed something else. But, my criticism lacks creativity since I don't know what could be added to it.

Back in 2019, director Alex Parkinson made a documentary about a deep-sea accident that happened in 2012, called LAST BREATH. He now has directed a feature film remake of that same accident, using the same name. It features "one of the most dangerous jobs on Earth", saturation divers who maintain undersea gas lines in the North Sea. The story revolves around a diving team as they begin a routine task: the salty Duncan (Woody Harrelson), the cold but focused David (Simu Liu), and the learning sponge Chris (Finn Cole). After an accident, one of them is left stranded with minutes of air left. It now comes down to a rescue or a recovery mission. I appreciated how the movie goes through the detailed process of the job. I also appreciated how Parkinson wasn't tempted to add things to make it a more entertaining movie, it would've felt inauthentic if he threw a random shark in the mix (unless it actually happened). I loved how realistic the lighting was on the seabed. It was dark AF, making you feel properly anxious and claustrophobic. The best parts of this movie are the moments of extreme tension. As the diver is losing air, you realize you also stopped breathing. LAST BREATH is a well-executed thriller that feels like a very "dad movie", if that makes sense. It has great acting and somewhat corny writing, but a had a great time. Remember, don't forget to breathe. It's a privilege.

While I keep hearing that the 2019 documentary (co-directed by Alex Parkinson, who also directs this) tackled the story a lot better, I like to think what works for and against the film is its 90-minute runtime. A story of this kind needs greater character establishment scenes and dialogue to make us really care for the lead(s) in underwater peril. That unfortunately isn't the case here as we dive into the core incident almost straight away, with time ticking fast. On the flip side, it maintains the thrill quotient all through by keeping things eventful and busy. The central performances (Woody Harrelson, Simu Liu, Finn Cole, and Cliff Curtis) are quite solid, plus the production design and visual effects are neatly done. The real-life footage at the end indicates the camaraderie between the men, which also made me want to see more of the documentary. It also made me think about the dangerous jobs that humans often sign up for.

A couple of divers go into the North Sea to carry out essential maintenance on the pipelines, they hit a snag and one of the team, Chris Lemons, breaks away, getting lost in the depths, a desperate mission to bring him back begins.

I'll start by saying, I did enjoy it, and after some of the atrocious films I've seen on the big screen recently, it did at least hold my attention. For me it looks and feels like a made for TV movie, the appeal was seeing Woody Harrelson.

In this day and age, with energy bills sky high, people are a lot more aware of underwater structures, such as pipes and energy lines, so it definitely has a relevance.

I have a massive phobia about open water, plus an appreciation for how much claustrophobia can really affect some people, this film has elements of both. It does pack in some tension and at times it leaves you feeling quite literally breathless.

I didn't feel particularly engaged with the characters on an emotional level, but that's the story I guess, they chose not to give them lengthy introductions.

Some of the camera work was good, best of all, the lighting, they got it spot on, it's suitably dark and gloomy, they never went overboard with the lights, smart choice.

It's worth taking another look at the documentary, it's still an incredible story of survival, it's a tremendous watch.

The acting was a mixed bag, I thought Mark Bonnar came across well, Harrelson was ok, I found Simu Liu a little wooden, I know he was playing the aloof, serious guy, but he just felt blank.

Overall it's a solid movie, I just feel that they didn't make the most out of a truly compelling and powerful story. I fear it'll be forgotten fairly quickly.

6/10.

Last Breath was Regal's latest mystery movie and boy, was it an intense viewing experience! I found myself taking deep breaths throughout as the tension mounted - as if to assure myself that I could still breathe (maybe it's an asthma thing). This movie tells the true story depicted in 2019's documentary of the same name. Things go wrong on a deep sea diving repair mission and a diver gets trapped on the bottom of the ocean as the rest of the people on the ship above (and in the bell beneath the surface) battle the elements and the clock in their efforts to rescue him. Woody Harrelson turns in a solid performance in here, as do his costars Simu Liu and Finn Cole. The movie is efficiently paced with zero fat on it at all (yet managing to feel so much longer than it really is, because of the stakes involved for the characters). Cinematography and score are impressive as well. Recommended. Video review on my Cyn's Corner YouTube channel.