Greyhound (2020)

Rating: ⭐⭐½

Greyhound is the latest major Hollywood movie for the year that has been taken off its theatrical release and premiered on TV through the Apple TV+ streaming service, due to the continued widespread closure of cinemas during the Corvid 19 pandemic. While it is arguable whether the movie would have been more successful in the box office or released digitally through streaming services, I am not complaining as I can at least get to watch a major new in the current dire supply of new releases.

Tom Hanks breathes life to his character Captain Krause, a US Navy captain caught in the open seas being stalked and confronted by Navy U Boats that plan to destroy the convoy of cargo ships which the US Navy is protecting during World War II. What makes this story even more amazing is that the captain was making his first Atlantic crossing, making his achievement something that truly deserves a cinematic telling. Hanks gives another perfect performance portraying a vulnerable hero that we can relate to and admire. He is indeed one of today's best actor and I for one will not hesitate to see any movie with his name on the marque. 

Greyhound is quite a thrilling story and very effectively told within a conservative and rather uncharacteristically short 90 minutes running time. Admittedly I was struggling and was a bit at a lost with the dialogue which is often fast and heavy with sea crew jargon. However, ultimately it is rewarding as we begin to slowly understand what is going on. Another gripe is that many of the scenes were shot in the dark making it difficult to see the details. I am not sure if the film's short running time is giving the film any advantage. I also felt that many of the film's explosive action sequences may have benefitted from better build up or details. Keeping these short and quick may have lessen their impact and in some way robbed the movie of a block buster feel. So while Tom Hanks gets top marks from me, the movie remain as impressive but ultimately will not be something I would remember.