”Hunter Killer” stars Gerard Butler and Gary Oldman. Butler is a Scot who has been in quite a few films over the years but has yet to break through as an A lister.
Oldman is largely wasted as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He basically throws temper tantrums and is usually in favor of shooting first and asking questions later. The rapper “Common” has a major part and delivers pretty well.
The action takes place deep at sea below the ice off of Russia. Subs playing cat and mouse games find themselves in a showdown not of their own making.
There is plenty of drama and action to keep it all very interesting and you can’t help but marvel at the high tech nature of modern warfare, in this case submarine warfare. Throw in some tough as nails Navy Seals into the mix and you have the makings of a humdinger.
Butler is excellent as the confident, non Naval Academy graduate, commanding the sub. He came up through the ranks and knows every inch of the vessel and what goes into every job. His decision making is questioned throughout which seems to embolden him more than irritate him.
Interestingly, the role of the Russian submarine captain is played by Swede Michael Nyqvist who is best known as Mikael Blomkvist in Stieg Larsson’s best selling trilogy, “”Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” etc. Sadly, he passed away at age 56 of lung cancer not long after the film was completed. His death is acknowledged in the closing credits.
If you are up for an escapist type thriller this film will entertain. The filming of the subs navigating treacherous waters is top notch and it’s always fun to watch the good guys win. This isn’t “Das Boot”, but it is an enjoyable well made movie.
Another great review . I will try to see it. Bix