For anyone who has seen this movie the dramatic sequences, one of which I will critique, are so great because of the build up to them. I cannot do the scene I am about to describe justice without first mentioning the emotion that is built prior to the action. You get to see the soldier's human side before they go into war and see the toll their experience has on them throughout the movie. Seeing this transition of human emotion is what makes a war movie powerful and this movie does it better than most of the war movies made in the last twenty years. The unique element of this film is the fact the almost the entire movie is shot in a World War Two U-boat. Needless to say today's high tech nuclear submarines don't have much extra room, now imagine one of the first submarines ever created! Not to mention no radio or radar! The scene I have chosen to analysis happens when the enemy ship first attacks the U-boat. After the first wave of depth charges the director does a close up of individuals on the submarine. This really shows the fear the men have but the Captain remains calm. The director uses close ups during the individual shots. The Captain tries to out smart the destroyer boat but has no success and they continue to be hit. Each hit violently shakes the sub and warning bells are heard throughout the sub. The only choice is to dive deeper and deeper causing horrific sounds from the U-boat's structure. At this point the men's faces have turned from fear to terror. The camera pans from the close up of the individuals to the depth meter, which continues to drop towards the danger level. They can hear the boat above but finally it seems to pass and a general level of calm returns to the men's sprit. A frantic celebration ensues over the enlisted men while the higher ups seem more concerned for the challenges ahead. The camera then focuses on the "good meat" in which the officers are enjoying, it is discolored and has hair growing from it. The submarine then surfaces and there is a shot of the entire U-boat being tossed in the rough sea. A few of the officers are above deck enjoying the storm and seem almost mad laughing and joking while 20 foot waves blast the vessel. The changes in human emotion in this 30 minute scene are vast!
