Greyhound starring Tom Hanks is the first major release from the Apple TV+ streaming platform is World War II drama.
In Greyhound, a first-time captain (Tom Hanks) leads a convoy of allied ships carrying thousands of soldiers across the treacherous waters of the “Black Pit” to the front lines of WW2. With no air cover protection for 5 days, the captain and his convoy must battle the surrounding enemy Nazi U-boats in order to give the allies a chance to win the war.
A solid if a bit perfunctory effects spectacular Greyhound has Tom Hanks leading the way, while doing his best Gene Hackman face. Certainly it ranks up there with the likes of Hunt for Red October and Crimson Tide in the submarines at war genre (Das Boot still reigning supreme) and it’s short run time certainly keeps things tight, without expanding his characters dynamics.
The film centres around his conflict of making the right choices at the right time while the rest of the crew are second guessing or panicking for the most part. There’s certainly a lot of naval shouting, which has been sen time and time again including the films just mentioned. But there’s something about Tom Hanks in Greyhound. Maybe it’s becuase he’s arguably this generations go to actor, or maybe it’s becuase he’s in familiar territory (Saving Private Ryan). But whatever it is. Greyhound certainly isn’t a failure. At times it’s quite engaging and tense. However with all the exposition and Hanks grumbling a lot, the film can at times end up bogged down in it’s on self worth.
Greyhound looks rather spectacular despite its grim weather conditions and impending doom in 4K. One of those films that actually would have benefitted from a cinema release rather than going straight to streaming on Apple TV+. If just for the sheer spectacle and claustrophobia in certain sequences would have created for an even better experience. However the brief appearance of Screen One favourite Elisabeth Shue adds 100 stars. Even if she is on screen for less than 10 minutes. It’s the small wins…
As a flagpole release for the launch of Apple’s new streaming service, this is good without being great. Tom Hanks does what Tom Hanks does, so Greyhound is certainly watchable. Whether it’s one of those films that you will remember or go back to, remains to be seen.
Sinking Private Ryan.
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