The Finest Hours

Name: The Finest Hours
Genre: Action, Adventure, Biography, Drama, History
Released: January 29, 2016
Duration: 117 min
Rating: 58
Cast: Ben Foster, Casey Affleck, Chris Pine, Eric Bana

2016

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 39 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 123 Ratings

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6.6

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6.6	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 123 Ratings

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The Finest Hours

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Movie Details & Credits

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures | Release Date: January 29, 2016 | PG-13

Starring: Ben Foster, Casey Affleck, Chris Pine, Eric Bana

Summary: On February 18, 1952, a massive nor’easter struck New England, pummeling towns along the Eastern seaboard and wreaking havoc on the ships caught in its deadly path, including the SS Pendleton, a T-2 oil tanker bound for Boston, which was literally ripped in half, trapping more than 30 sailors inside its rapidly-sinking stern. As the seniorOn February 18, 1952, a massive nor’easter struck New England, pummeling towns along the Eastern seaboard and wreaking havoc on the ships caught in its deadly path, including the SS Pendleton, a T-2 oil tanker bound for Boston, which was literally ripped in half, trapping more than 30 sailors inside its rapidly-sinking stern. As the senior officer on board, first assistant engineer Ray Sybert (Casey Affleck) soon realizes it is up to him to take charge of the frightened crew and inspire the men to set aside their differences and work together to ride out one of the worst storms to ever hit the East Coast. Meanwhile, as word of the disaster reaches the U.S. Coast Guard station in Chatham, Massachusetts, Warrant Officer Daniel Cluff (Eric Bana) orders a daring operation to rescue the stranded men. Despite overwhelming odds, four men, led by Coast Guard Captain Bernie Webber (Chris Pine), set out in a wooden lifeboat with an ill-equipped engine and little, if any, means of navigation, facing frigid temperatures, 60-foot high waves and hurricane-force winds. [Disney]… Expand

Director: Craig Gillespie

Genre(s): Action, Adventure, Biography, Drama, History, Thriller

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 117 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

Marc Savlov

Jan 27, 2016

Carter Burwell’s score is particularly thunderous, mirroring the onscreen action, and the 3-D really is – for once – superb, making for a rather breathtaking two hours. Well done. Read full review

Lawrence Toppman

Jan 28, 2016

From the first gentle meeting of its hero and heroine to the last line of dialogue, The Finest Hours executes all the traditional moves beautifully. Read full review

Kenneth Turan

Jan 28, 2016

This tale of nautical derring-do has several things going for it to counteract the inherent obviousness of the material. These include a director who knows his way around this kind of material, special effects work that makes the peril fearfully alive, and a pip of a true story of what is considered as daring a rescue mission as the U.S. Coast Guard ever attempted. Read full review

Alan Scherstuhl

Jan 28, 2016

Just as Pine's Bernie Webber grits his teeth and pilots his 36-foot Coast Guard boat into seas that rise up like angry gods, Gillespie steers head-on into clichés, powering through. They never quite capsize his film, but it does take on some water. Read full review

Peter Rainer

Jan 29, 2016

It’s not just the technique of this movie that is resolutely old-fashioned. So are its attitudes. The film may feature practically wall-to-wall monster storms but undergirding it all is a cushion of straight-arrow sentimentalism. It harks back to a rosy neverland when men were men and women stood by them. Read full review

Joe Morgenstern

Jan 28, 2016

The drama is almost stillborn, thanks to a slow, deadly dull romantic preface, and it’s subverted by incessant switching between spectacular struggles on the Atlantic and generic anxieties on shore. Read full review

Ian Freer

Feb 15, 2016

A strong cast and impressive action sequences can’t find subtleties or surprises to enliven a rote period disaster movie. It hits the right points, but mechanically. Read full review

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User Reviews

ERICK_GS

Mar 11, 2016

a real good movie, with a lot of chilli moments and critic survival moments.
I was so tight to my sit during all movie, and from the beginning , I knew it was great , sadly it was highly underrated, but it became one of my favorite movies instantly

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

boathead

Mar 5, 2016

Went to this movie with a group of "boat people" who have fortunately never needed to be rescued by the Coast Guard. I was expecting an OK movie , but was pleasantly surprised. The on the water scenes followed the book fairly well, but varied with Bernie and Miriam's romance(in the bookWent to this movie with a group of "boat people" who have fortunately never needed to be rescued by the Coast Guard. I was expecting an OK movie , but was pleasantly surprised. The on the water scenes followed the book fairly well, but varied with Bernie and Miriam's romance(in the book they were already married and Miriam was at home with the flu). This movie gives you an appreciation for what the Coast Guard does. Bravery is a requirement for this job. Now I just wish they would spend a bit more on boat shoes for these guys and gals, when they board you for inspection they always leave black sole marks on my vinyl....just kidding!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

damman

Feb 1, 2016

great movie with a rich history. the movie was great but I do question why they put black actors on the boat but the original photo had no people of color as far I could see. Just a thought. great movie go out and see.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

eagleeyeviking

May 26, 2016

The Finest Hours may have been much more but is nevertheless still an old fashioned, very well acted and tense rescue mission thriller that respects the event it is based on.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

CarFan1999

Aug 12, 2016

Based on the trailers, it looked liked this would be something different from Disney; an intense rescue drama. However, The Finest Hours turns out to be exactly what you would expect from the Mouse House. This film benefits from very good acting, top- notch special effects, a few heartBased on the trailers, it looked liked this would be something different from Disney; an intense rescue drama. However, The Finest Hours turns out to be exactly what you would expect from the Mouse House. This film benefits from very good acting, top- notch special effects, a few heart pounding moments, and it's so authentic to the time period that this felt like it made in 1952. But the problem with the film is that it doesn't focus enough on the sea rescue. The romance takes up to much of the run time and does not add anything to the overall story. In addition; being a Disney movie; useless moral lessons are thrown in that also add nothing to the overall plot. In the end, this is a typical feel good Disney film with fine acting and special effects; but also some useless elements that add nothing more then melodrama and a lack of intensity.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Dragonfly44

May 6, 2018

It’s kind of tense. Good acting. Special effects are good. It’s kind of okay. It’s pretty boring. Seems too long at almost two hours. Not horrible. Just kind of the movie you’d watch if you wanted to go to bed or it was late at night already.

Rating - 56%

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

KenyanCritic

May 11, 2016

The finest hour of the movie is most definitely the first hour of watching this movie. To kick off a movie 'based on a true story' with a sheepishly contrived love story was a downer. The movie is cumbersome in execution jumping to and fro unrelated themes of honor, love and bravery.The finest hour of the movie is most definitely the first hour of watching this movie. To kick off a movie 'based on a true story' with a sheepishly contrived love story was a downer. The movie is cumbersome in execution jumping to and fro unrelated themes of honor, love and bravery. Somewhere along the first hour of the movie I gave up and decided to add an imaginary ending where the entire cast died at sea. Poorly executed.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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