Last Breath

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.