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When John McTiernan's film of THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER opened in the spring of 1990 early reactions were mixed. Those who had read Tom Clancy's novel were upset at the way the story had been edited down. Those who had NOT read the book wondered how the tale could retain any relevance given the ongoing collapse of Soviet military power. And English speaking audiences everywhere were puzzled by the selection of Sean Connery as the movie's lead.
Nonetheless, the film became--and remains--a success, attracting a world wide fan following which it continues to enjoy. Many who admit to repeated viewings cite the superb acting, acting, direction, and sound as the picture's chief attractions, along with a spellbinding quality not quite so easy to explain.
What exactly casts that spell becomes more and more obvious as the Cold War fades into history. Today's viewer discovers more than just another "geopolitical thriller." For Tom Clancy's story, as adapted by the able John McTiernan, emerges as a clever retelling of the most famous submarine epic of them all.
When Alec Baldwin is seen as the ingenuous Professor Aronnax, Scott Glenn as the cynical Ned Land and Courtney Vance as a compelling and very hip Consuelo the choice of Connery as the moody Master of the Deep is revealed as a stroke of genius. Even the glittering hardware and vast scale of the Red October--in contrast to the dark and claustrophobic sets normally presented in submarine movies--make sense. For the menacing, mysteriously-driven Red October is, from this perspective, the re-incarnation of Jules Verne's Nautilus, and her Commander, a latter-day Nemo.
(Physically, Connery is a virtual double for Nemo as Verne describes him. In one of the more charming passages, Nemo--having amused himself by testing poor Aronnax's facility with foreign languages--informs the Professor that though his books have made for good reading they could, in Nemo's opinion, stand improvement!)
How McTiernan moves his story to a thunderous denouement while remaining faithful to both Clancy *and* Verne delights and astonishes audiences to this day. But not content to simply update the Verne tale, McTiernan--aided by Connery's unforgettable portrayal and by Basil Poledouris' rich and highly anthemic orchestral score--adds to the film a spiritual dimension that cannot fail to resonate with even those who have never heard of Tom Clancy, or of a Nautilus far older than America's atom-powered version.
The ambiguous tone of the film is established at the very outset, as the mixed choir's haunting and evocative "Dosvedanye, Rodina" ("Farewell, My Homeland") contrasts sharply with the all-male chorus, extravagant in its praise for the destructive capabilities of their new weapon. The film itself is filled with allusions to martyrdom and resurrection. The grouping of officers in the wardroom shortly after the Red October sails echoes da Vinci's "Last Supper"; Ramius' bunk fits him uncannily like a coffin while a "lift" from Melville allows Sam Neill to play Starbuck to Connery's Ahab; a small cross appears briefly amid the geysering spray of a submarine explosion; and the finale aboard the Red October calls to mind an old sailors' metaphor for passage to a better life--making Ryan's closing line both poignant and prophetic.
For all these reasons, increasingly apparent as the Cold War continues to fade from memory, John McTiernan's HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER--far from becoming another piece of nostalgic propaganda--stands revealed at last as a brilliant reworking of a masterpiece, capable of standing as a classic on its own.
By : Anna G. McDougald
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rec.art.movies.reviews newsgroup
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If you're the type of person who goes on the submarine ride every time you visit Disneyland, you're going to love THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER. You'll also love the film if you enjoy cat and mouse military tactics, or if you're a Sean Connery or Alec Baldwin fan, or if you admired director John McTiernan's earlier films, DIE HARD and PREDATOR. In fact, the only people likely to be disappointed with THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER are those who have read the book, since films almost never live up to the novels which inspired them.
THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER is an epic thriller, adapted from Tom Clancy's best selling novel. Set in an era before Glasnost, the movie revolves around a top-secret Soviet submarine, called the Red October. The nuclear sub has a revolutionary propulsion system, which makes the vessel silent and allows it to escape sonar detection. The Red October embarks on its maiden voyage under the command of Captain Marko Ramius, played by Sean Connery. Ramius has strict orders just to test the submarine, but he has other ideas. He takes the sub and its crew and disappears into the Atlantic Ocean. Is he planning to start World War III? CIA Analyst Jack Ryan doesn't think so; he's convinced that Ramius plans to defect to the U.S. Ryan, played by Alec Baldwin, is given three days to prove his theory and find the missing sub.
The characters in THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER are paper thin, but the performances, thankfully, are rock solid. Baldwin and Connery anchor the film with their customary vigor. Sam Neil gives a sturdy performance as Connery's somber first officer. It's ironic to see Neil and Connery playing Russians, since they are both best known for their roles as British agents, Connery as James Bond and Neil as Reilly, "Ace of Spies." The large cast also includes Scott Glenn, James Earl Jones, Tim Curry, and Joss Ackland, plus Richard Jordan as the smooth U.S. national security adviser.
The special effects are remarkable, but more than anything, THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER is distinguished by its water-tight plot. Screenwriters Larry Ferguson and Donald Stewart have gracefully navigated RED OCTOBER through a story line full of twists and turns. They keep us involved in the action by unveiling plot strands at just the right moment.
The movie doesn't get as sweaty or breathless as DIE HARD, because it would rather tell a good story than hit you over the head with non-stop action. The finale is rousing and suspenseful, but essentially, THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER is a superior potboiler.
By : Randy Parker
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