Deepwater Horizon (2016)

A dramatization of the disaster in April 2010, when the offshore drilling rig called the Deepwater Horizon exploded, resulting in the worst oil spill in American history.

Director:

Peter Berg

Writers:

Matthew Michael Carnahan (screenplay by), Matthew Sand (screenplay by)

Stars:

Mark Wahlberg, Kurt Russell, Douglas M. Griffin

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 13 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Mark Wahlberg	...	Mike Williams
Kurt Russell	...	Jimmy Harrell
Douglas M. Griffin	...	Landry
James DuMont	...	O'Bryan
Joe Chrest	...	Sims
Gina Rodriguez	...	Andrea Fleytas
Brad Leland	...	Kaluza
John Malkovich	...	Vidrine
David Maldonado	...	Kuchta (as Dave Maldonado)
J.D. Evermore	...	Dewey A. Revette (as JD Evermore)
Ethan Suplee	...	Jason Anderson
Jason Pine	...	Stephen Ray Curtis
Jason Kirkpatrick	...	Aaron Dale Burkeen
Robert Walker Branchaud	...	Doug Brown
Dylan O'Brien	...	Caleb Holloway

Storyline

In April 2010, there is no oil exploration operation in the Gulf of Mexico to compare with the Deepwater Horizon oil rig with its size or sheer depth of its drilling. However, the project for the BP oil company is beset with technical difficulties to the point where the general operational supervisor, Jimmy Harrell, and his Chief Electrical Engineer, Mike Williams, are concerned potentially dangerous trouble is brewing. Unfortunately, visiting BP executives, frustrated by the project's long delays, order curtailed site inspections and slanted system tests to make up for lost time even as Harrell, Williams and his team helplessly protest for the sake of proper safety. On April 20, the workers' fears are realized in the worst possible way when the rig's various structural and system flaws spark a catastrophic cascade of failures that would create a massive blowout and explosion that threatens them all, even as it also begins the worst environmental disaster in US history.

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Plot Keywords:

disaster movie | oil rig | deepwater horizon oil spill | capitalism | capitalist bully | 

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Taglines:

When faced with our darkest hour, hope is not a tactic

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Genres:

Action | Drama | History | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for prolonged intense disaster sequences and related disturbing images

Did You Know?

Trivia

Peter Berg: as Mr. Skip, one of the guys in charge of running the cement test. He is the character Mr. Jimmy talks to after landing and getting off the helicopter.

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Goofs

Just before the onset of the blowout, visiting BP staff are seen wandering around the derrick floor in their smart shirts. Ths is a major breach of safety rules. No one ever steps on a derrick floor without protective equipment. Similarly, Andrea should have permanently donned a coverall. And Mr Jim would normally, before anything else, don his coveralls upon disembarking from the helicopter.

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Quotes

Mike Williams: [about the skipped cement check] Is that stupid?
Caleb Holloway: I don't know if it's stupid, but...
Caleb Holloway, Shane M. Roshto: ...it ain't smart.

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Crazy Credits

During the opening logos and first few opening credits, you can hear a real life audio clip from the trial that ensued following the disaster.

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Connections

Referenced in Midnight Screenings: Deepwater Horizon/Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (2016)

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Soundtracks

For the Love of Money
Written by Kenny Gamble (as Kenneth Gamble), Leon Huff and Anthony Jackson

User Reviews

Made with good intentions, but doesn't really work

Although what I stated in my above summary line may make you think that I thought that "Deepwater Horizon" was a bad movie, that is actually not the case. It's more of a misguided movie instead. The movie can be basically divided into two halves, and each half doesn't really work.

The first half suffers from the fact that it is way too long and talky. Yes, some time should have been taken to set up the situation and try to educate the audience what is going on, but I don't think it had to be to the extent (about fifty minutes) that the movie thinks it had to run. As a result, it's often quite boring.

The second half of the movie (when the disaster starts) is a bit better - there is some excitement and suspense, though it suffers from the fact that a lot of the CGI special effects are not really all that convincing. Also, it ends a bit abruptly in some regards before the closing credits start to roll.

I think the movie may have worked better if its 107 minutes were divided into three equal length parts - the first part setting up the situation, the second part devoted to the unfolding disaster, and then a final part showing the characters adjusting after the disaster. But as it is, the movie is kind of misguided. As I said, it's not an awful movie - there is some genuine merit here and there, like some good acting and sympathetic characters - but the whole package is somewhat unsatisfying.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official Site

Country:

Hong Kong China USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 September 2016 (USA)

Also Known As:

Deepwater Horizon

Filming Locations:

Chalmette, Louisiana, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$110,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$20,223,544, 2 October 2016

Gross USA:

$61,433,527

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$121,790,373

Company Credits

Production Co:

Summit Entertainment, Participant, TIK Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Sound Mix:

DTS (DTS: X) Dolby Atmos 12-Track Digital Sound (IMAX 12 track) Dolby Digital (2.0 Night Listening) IMAX 6-Track

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1