“In the Heart of the
Sea” a Whale of a Good Movie
For
those with even the slightest interest in Herman Melville’s “Moby Dick,” the
film “In the Heart of the Sea” offers an intriguing look into the events that
inspired the famous novel. Based on Nathaniel Philbrick’s best-selling book,
“In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex,” “In the Heart of
the Sea” was directed by Ron Howard and released in December 2015. The film
brings to the screen the true events that inspired Herman Melville’s “Moby
Dick.” Beginning with the character of Herman Melville seeking out the last
surviving crew member to have experienced the tragedy of the Essex at sea, Tom,
the bulk of the film brings to life the true story that Tom relays to Melville.
In 1820, the whaleship Essex sets
out with plans to return to Nantucket with a ship full of barrels of whale oil.
Tom, a young boy eager for whaling, witnesses the power struggle between
Captain Pollard, a man with little experience as a seafarer, but with a
bloodline to make up for that, and the captain’s first mate, Owen, who was
promised a position as Captain, but did not have the family name needed for the
job. In their first of many months at sea, the crew experiences a terrible,
ship-damaging storm, and garners one whale. In search for more, the crew
reaches Equador, and ignoring the warning from another seafarer about a “demon
whale,” heads towards where they have been promised a surplus of sperm whales.
They indeed find their whales, but their hunting is stopped when a giant sperm
whale maliciously attacks the Essex, completely destroying it. Now confined to
three small rowboats with little food or water, the crew floats hopelessly
around the ocean for 90 days. Their desperation causes them to do the
unthinkable to survive, and only two boats with few surviving men are finally
rescued. Once returned to Nantucket, the Captain and First Mate are urged to
refrain from telling the truth about the “demon whale” for fear of the tale
hurting the whaling business. However, both Owen and Captain Pollard refuse to
lie about the traumatic events.
Though “In the Heart of the Sea” did
not do fabulously well in the box office, the movie keeps one engaged and
intrigued the entire time, and is beautifully filmed. The rather graphic
whaling scene is cringe worthy, as is watching as the crew becomes emaciated at
sea after their run-in with the whale. The main “action” scenes—the storm, the
first whale, and the destruction of the Essex—will keep your adrenaline rushing
and are placed masterfully to keep one from feeling the monotony of the many
months at sea. The last large chunk of the movie covering the 90 days stranded
has the potential to be a bit boring, but by that point in the film viewers are
so invested in the characters that this really isn’t a problem.
Though not an action packed
thriller, “In the Heart of the Sea” is loaded with suspense and skillful filming
to keep viewers absorbed in the plot. The fact that the movie is based on true
events adds an additional level of intrigue and emotion to viewing the film.
“In the Heart of the Sea” will captivate even those with no knowledge or
interest in “Moby Dick,” and those who never knew the inspiration for
Melville’s famous novel will be enthralled and satisfied.
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