Barnes & Noble

When it comes to building too-close-for-comfort tension and suspense, there's nothing like setting a film in the confines of a submarine. In the case of this gripping 1995 thriller, potential nuclear warfare ratchets the intensity that much higher. When rebels seize control of a Russian missile base, concerned Pentagon officials order the USS Alabama to destroy the site with their own nukes. That's just fine with Capt. Frank Ramsey (Gene Hackman), but when a garbled follow-up order suggests the presence of complicating factors, newly assigned Lt. Commander Ron Hunter (Denzel Washington) suggests they wait before launching a first strike. The resulting clash threatens to provoke a mutiny, which promises profound consequences. Director Tony Scott (Domino) eschews his trademark camera wizardry and concentrates on establishing a grim mood enhanced by the claustrophobic setting. Washington and Hackman, whose increasingly heated exchanges will raise the hair on the back of your neck, superbly convey the mounting tension. These two fine actors -- backed up by a great supporting cast that includes future stars Viggo Mortensen and James Gandolfini -- bring a complex human dimension to this modern action classic. Ed Hulse

All Movie Guide

Two leaders with different philosophies about battle and leadership wage war with each other in the tense military thriller Crimson Tide. Capt. Frank Ramsey (Gene Hackman) is the commanding officer of a nuclear submarine, the U.S.S. Alabama. Ramsey is a distinguished veteran near the end of his career, and he leads his men with an iron hand; as he puts it, "We're here to preserve democracy, not to practice it." Ramsey is assigned a new second-in-command, Lt. Cmmdr. Ron Hunter (Denzel Washington); Hunter is much younger than Ramsey, Harvard educated, and believes the goal of the military in the nuclear age is to prevent war, not fight it. While at sea, word reaches the Alabama that a splinter group of Russian forces have seized missile silos, and the ship is put on red alert. The Alabama has orders to fire, but as it is receiving a new incoming order the radio malfunctions. It's Ramsey's contention that an order is an order and they are to move forward with the attack, while Hunter feels if there is any question at all about their mission, they should wait until they can receive further instruction, with Hunter going so far as to threaten mutiny against Ramsey if the missile strike is carried out. Quentin Tarantino and Robert Towne both contributed to the screenplay without credit. Mark Deming

Product Details

• UPC: 786936795752
• Source: WALT DISNEY VIDEO
• Region Code: 1
• Time: 1:56:00
• Sales Rank: 3,163

This DVD is also available as part of a box set:

• The Rock & Crimson Tide

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