"The Finest Hours" Is A Great True Story...But A Mediocre Movie

The Finest Hours (2016)

Rated PG-13

Starring Chris Pine, Casey Affleck, Ben Foster, Eric Bana, Holliday Grainger, John Ortiz,

Directed by Craig Gillespie

The Story:

During a tremendous blizzard in 1952, a tanker rips in two and the Coast Guard sends just about everyone they have to try and save any survivors.

This is not that story.

You see, there was a second tanker that also ripped in half and had survivors on it. What was left of the Coast Guard was dispatched to try and find the remnants of that ship and bring in any survivors.

This is that story.

And it's true.

The biggest problem with this, the story and much of the acting and pacing is stiff, wooden and rather boring.

Which seems really weird when you have a thrilling rescue mission at sea that bogs down while trying to be told.

Weirder still that it was a product of Walt Disney studios who excel at these true life stories.

There's equal parts of blame to go around all over the place, even the leading man, Chris Pine, and quite possibly especially him, is not above finger pointing.

His character is probably supposed to be shy and humble, but it just comes across as stiff and unlikable.

Things do pick up considerably once the storm is raging and the rescue attempt begins, but the buildup to it with Pine and Grainger's romance...

Goodness that's some painfully dull cinema to endure.

Good intentions, a great real story that just gets muddied when it was turned into a film.

Final Grade: C

Ashes To Ashes..."Cinderella"

Cinderella (2015)

Rated PG

Starring Lily James, Cate Blanchett, Sophie McShera, Holliday Grainger, Richard Madden

Directed by Kenneth Branagh

The Story:

Ella (James) loses her mom at an early age, and when her father remarries, she tries to please her stepmother (Blanchett) and two step-sisters (Grainger & McShera). Ah, but tragedy strikes again, and soon their disdain and contempt shine through and Cinderella earns her name as she is ground under the boot of her family. If only a Prince Charming (Madden) would come to the rescue...

Ultimately, disappointing.

Where Disney struck gold with Maleficent doing a live action version of Sleeping Beauty, but presenting a different take on the tale, Cinderella becomes a boring paint by numbers retelling of the story with little left to the imagination.

Clearly the animated classic was better, and for that matter, so was the far superior Ever After which told this story, and much better, back in 1998.

I must say though, I will give Blanchett credit for being an exceptionally cruel stepmother. There was no real reason for her behavior, and she dialed it up to 11. Thoroughly detestable.

But it's Disney, and their hype machine is in full swing, and all the little girls out there will no doubt wish to see this version.

Meh.

So be it, but this makes me nervous about all the remaining live-action reboots that Disney is churning out at an alarming rate.

I will proceed with caution.

And so should you if you're looking for a version of Cinderella to watch with the family.

Final Grade: C