Phantom - A Última Missão

"There are only 2 reasons for a boat to go rogue. One is to defect and the other is to start a war and I don't think we're defecting." This movie is based on actual evens set during the Cold War between the US and the USSR. After returning home and excited about being on leave the A Russian sub captain (Harris) and crew are stunned when they are chosen to go on another mission right away. The mission is classified and the only one on the sub that knows the details is a KGB agent Duchovny). When certain details emerge the crew starts to rethink the orders they are given. I was looking forward to seeing this for really one reason. I am a huge Ed Harris fan. He did not disappoint in this movie. The movie itself is also really good and the best way to describe it is a mix of Hunt For Red Octber and Crimson Tide. The fact that the movie is true makes it even more interesting to watch. It is a little predictable but that does not take away from the enjoyment of the movie at all. If you are a fan of movies like Red October then this movie is for you. I recommend this. Overall, very tense and exciting. I give it a B+.

Like another reviewer from Samara has mentioned here, you can count tons of fakes here. Usually a Hollywood movie at least tries to be as much accurate as possible. Here, apart of gears showing authentic Russian readings and navy/military uniforms looking right, everything else looks and feels American. I can mention few "gems" here, like what and how "Russian" officers drink! They do not gulp (as any normal Russian does) - they sip, just like ladies. Then all these "sir" and "mister", and then a Russian captain reflecting and even crying about killed sailors. Really? And all those nice and glowing scenes from an Orthodox church! Yes, of course. Churches in Russia in 1960s. The director, Todd Robinson, should have hired just one Russian as a consultant, that would serve the movie for sure.

However, if you ignore the lines in the story that this is supposed to be about Russian people and Russian navy and few real things like those gears, and imagine that this is about a US navy, and about rogue CIA agents, then everything falls in its place and looks natural. This could be a good watchable movie.

Inspired by actual events in 1968

In 1968, a Russian diesel submarine goes out for one last mission and then it will be given to the Chinese. Captain Demi (Ed Harris) believes Bruni (David Duchovny), a KGB operative, has plans to take over the ship and start a nuclear war. Bruni will use Phantom to accomplish his mission. How to stop him?

I may be dating myself, but I couldn't help thinking of Richard Widmark during this movie. This was his kind of movie and Ed Harris does an Oscar Worthy job filling in for our departed (2008) friend. Kudos.

The language was all in English, not English with broken Russian accents. That was a good move as nothing was lost in translation by doing this.

The acting by all was excellent. There was good suspense and tension with the music helping.

This was thoroughly enjoyable and the last scenes were heartfelt and very, very clever. Keep a box of Kleenex handy as you may need it. Did I mention that the last scenes were very clever?

There is a statement at the end that says in 1968 a Russian submarine went missing and all is still classified by both the Russian and American governments. (9/10)

Violence: Yes. Sex: No. Nudity: No. Language: Yes, not much though.

Much is made of perceived weaknesses in "Phantom," most notably the absence of Russian accents. This doesn't bother me, certainly no more than watching anything by the BBC in which everyone, regardless of character nationality, has an accent found somewhere in the British Isles. I'm not familiar with the minutiae of Soviet era submariners, so I can't suitably critique the proper etiquette or uniform details. Looked accurate enough for me to accept it. If you're willing to look past that, you'll be able to enjoy a competent, if slightly derivative, submarine flick. Frankly, it's worth watching for the performances of Ed Harris (the sub captain) and William Fichtner (Harris's second in command) alone. They carry the movie, and, in my case at least, kept me watching through to the end. David Duchovny, as the rogue KGB agent is a little harder to accept, but I suspect that has less to do with his performance than my own inability to not think, "What the hell, Mulder?" every time I see him. The supporting characters do their best with what they have, and honestly, I admire anyone who can work in even a mock submarine's space. Ultimately, this movie is about sacrifice, whether on the part of the family separated by military service, or the things one is willing to do for the sake of one's nation. If you've actually read this far into the reviews, or even this far into this one review, I think you'll be engaged enough that it won't be a waste of your time to watch "Phantom," especially if you can see it via whatever instant service you use. Like it says above, it's not "Das Boot," but really, what else is?

'PHANTOM': Three Stars (Out of Five)

Cold War submarine thriller starring Ed Harris, David Duchovny and William Fichtner. It was written and directed by Todd Robinson, who's also directed multiple documentaries (on subjects ranging from rock music to Billy the Kid) and wrote the 1996 Ridley Scott directed sailing thriller 'WHITE SQUALL'. The film is about the captain of a Soviet missile submarine, during the Cold War, who must stop a rogue KGB agent from taking over his ship and seizing the nuclear missile onboard. It's loosely based on actual events of a missile crisis in 1968 involving the K-129 sub. It sort of plays out like a second rate 'THE HUNT FOR RED October'. It had a very limited theatrical release (in which it made about one eighteenth of it's $18 million budget back) and the film has received harsh criticism for it's inaccurate depiction of a Soviet sub (and no attempt was made to have the actors speak Slavic at all, with subtitles, or speak with accents). The film is definitely cheesy at times but for the most part it's intense and amusing. The acting is great as well.

Harris plays a Soviet Navy captain named Demi, in the 1960s, who's set to retire when he's asked to go on one last mission with his old crew on his old ship. Demi feels his career has been a disappointment and is still haunted by mistakes he made in his past, which cost the lives of several of his men (he also suffers from seizures at times, due to a past injury). So he jumps at the chance to command his ship on one last mission, and possibly redeem himself, even if it's a mysterious classified one. He's joined on the mission by a KGB group, lead by a man named Bruni (Duchovny), who obviously have ulterior motives. It soon becomes apparent that Bruni and his men have went rogue as they seize control of the ship and the missile on board. It's up to Demi and his loyal men to stop them before they start a nuclear war.

The film co-stars the likes of Lance Henriksen, Johnathon Schaech and Sean Patrick Flanery. Like I said the acting is all more than decent. Harris is always a pleasure to watch and Fichtner is a likable and interesting actor as well. Duchovny is kind of just menacing and mysterious in this but he fits the part. The directing I'd say is adequate; the mood and atmosphere are decent. It's the script that could have used some more work, I especially didn't like the ending (which is by far the most cheesy part of the whole movie). Up until the ending I was into it though. It's not nearly as good as something like 'THE HUNT FOR RED October' but it was fun and suspenseful enough to keep my interest. Movies like this aren't a bad way to pass the time, in my opinion, at least.

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