The makers of the based-on-a-true-story diving rescue drama “Last Breath” deliver precisely the kind of movie you’ll likely expect from a contemporary men’s adventure melodrama. In this case, there’s some tense situational peril about a saturation diver who collapses near an oil pipeline at the bottom of the Northern Sea. Additionally, unbelievable salt-of-the-earth characters who only seem human due to a (mostly) strong ensemble cast led by Finn Cole, Woody Harrelson, and Simu Liu exchange some overheated dialogue. They’re especially convincing whenever their characters work their way through an emergency. The same cannot be said for any particular scene in which the main characters explore the depths of their emotions and only produce bad movie dialogue.
When they read that synopsis, fans of disaster adventure films might conclude that the menu resembles the genre movie's version of easy comfort food. I respond to them by saying, "I truly understand," but not every inspiring tale of heroism can be reduced to processed cheese without losing most of its flavor. Instead of relishing the specific details of this story, you wind up enjoying its familiar pleasures and then maybe its creators’ proficient execution.
At the beginning of “Last Breath,” Chris (Cole), an inexperienced but capable diver, tries to console his anxious fiancée Morag (Bobby Rainsbury) before he leaves her for a month by comparing himself to an astronaut. Despite Chris's comparison quickly establishing this movie's formulaic style, Morag is only slightly relieved. “Last Breath” is an underwater extension of the hard science fiction subgenre that has come back into style thanks to hits like “Arrival,” "Interstellar," and "The Martian." Director Alex Parkinson and his two co-writers primarily focus on pseudo-naturalistic, process-oriented action. Too bad “Last Breath” isn’t as packed with thrilling incidental details or overwhelming forward momentum.
At the beginning of the film, realistic underwater drone footage shows a body lying on its side. “Based on a true story,” says the ensuing on-screen text. After that, we follow Chris and two other divers, gruff Dave (portrayed by Liu) and schmaltzy Duncan (portrayed by Harrelson), as they make what ought to have been an everyday excursion to the sea floor. Then Chris’s umbilical tether gets snagged and imperils not only him but also the ship that supports Chris’s group and two other diving teams. Chris is reminded by Dave that the outside world disappears once their dive begins. That's unfortunate because almost every tangential flashback to Morag only serves to stymie the plot's already sluggish development. Certainly, this movie's charm comes from its unabashed corniness, as evidenced by any scene involving diving veteran Duncan, who has a folksy line for everything. Because Duncan is the kind of character who can get by with a lot of chummy but forgettable banter and reassuring paternal assurances, Harrelson does a great job in his low-key role. Although Liu's character, Dave, who listens to metal music while pumping iron with his shirt off, is less charming, his character is also pure stock. He also seems a little lost throughout the role, which is not very big. The technicians who frantically oversee the rescue mission and their concerned supervisors are typically the unsung MVPs in movies like this. Mark Bonnar, who plays Craig, the concerned diving supervisor, is that in this instance. He’s helped throughout by a decent supporting cast, with central-ish roles for character actor stalwart Cliff Curtis and B-movie regular MyAnna Buring.
Curtis, who plays a ship's captain, only gets to confirm or deny his subordinates' orders, which is a shame. He does a very good job of pursing his lips with a lot of meaning, but it seems like he could do more if asked. The situation in "Last Breath" serves as an excellent illustration of the film's nature as a meathead memento mori in which tough-talking action heroes contemplate their own mortality. Some dialogue underscores that theme, like when Dave casually floats the idea that their jobs could be fully automated within the next decade. Fortunately, Parkinson is skilled at presenting underwater action because he co-directed a 2019 documentary about the same incident. He also does a fine job of integrating blown-up hand-held camerawork with surveillance camera footage both inside and around Chris and his team’s diving bell. So “Last Breath” is often tense where it counts, and that makes up for a lot.
If you already enjoy string cheese, "Last Breath" might satisfy your craving. For instance, your father is likely to be an ideal audience. He might also have his own notes, which says more about the film's abundance of fine lulls than it does about Popso and his preferences. Even though he is your father, it won't entirely be his fault if "Last Breath" fails to cheer him up.
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