Rating of
3/4
"The Hunt For Red October" by Yojimbo
Yojimbo - wrote on 01/28/12
When a soviet captain commanding a first strike nuclear submarine decides to defect, CIA analyst Jack Ryan is sent in to prevent catastrophe at the hands of the pursuing Russian forces. Alec Baldwin was always a bit of an also-ran as an action star, but his lone outing as Tom Clancy's Ryan is also easily the best. He is perfect as an academic unwillingly sent out into the field but it is obviously Sean Connery's towering presence that makes the film. The two head a very strong cast in this attempt at cinematic glastnost, as for the first time in a long time the simplistic gung-ho flag waving of the 80s is left behind and the Russians are shown as human beings, not the fanatical warmongers they had been portrayed as in Hollwood movies thus far. John McTiernan also provides some very slick direction making the underwater battles ooze tension and excitement which is no mean feat as by their very nature, submarine dramas can become very stodgy and dull. Well played all round with a great combination of humour, action and cold war conspiracy, The Hunt For Red October is still one of the best submarine films around.
