By Skip Sheffield
“Black Sea” is the best submarine suspense movie since “Das Boot.”
That is a bold statement, but “Black Sea” is a bold film, anchored by Jude Law in one of his best performances ever. Law plays submarine Capt. Robinson. In order to pay off some debts, Capt. Robinson, who has lost his job of 30 years, his wife and his son, takes on the risky business of leading a submarine crew in the Black Sea in search of a scuttled Nazi U Boat rumored to be carrying $40 million in gold bars. If they find the booty, the proceeds after 40 percent going to the backer of the mission, will be divided evenly among captain and crew. To keep an eye on things, Daniels (Scoot McNairy), who represents the investors, is along for the ride.
Capt. Robinson finds a ragtag old submarine and assembles a ragtag crew of misfits and one 18-year-old boy, Tobin (Bobby Schofield).
The crew, half U.K. and half Russian, represents various stereotypes. There is Fraser (Ben Mendelsohn), the possibly psychotic Australian; dour Russians Morozov (Grigory Donrygin) and Blackie (Konstantin Khabenskly), crusty Irishman Reynolds (Michael Smiley) and an old-timer (David Threlfall).
Basically it’s a recipe for disaster. We are not disappointed, for things start going wrong right away, and get worse and worse.
Director Kevin Macdonald keeps the suspense tight, and despite the familiar conventions of the plot, there are surprises. If you are claustrophobic as I am, “Black Sea” will make you uncomfortable and grateful you will never have to undergo such a misbegotten undersea voyage.
Three and a half stars