”If this thing goes south I will blow that Nazi boat right out of the water.”

The script’s ham-handed and about as historically accurate as Mister Peabody's Improbable History, but if you can make it to the second half there’s some pretty good action.

It also has some truly incredible sound design, so crank up the surround sound and immerse yourself in a sonic ocean of suspense.

”Do you think I got all the answers here?
Think I know how we’re gonna get out of this?
I don’t. I don’t know how.”

Cinematic Time Capsule - 2000 Ranked

Johnathon Mostow impresses me again after the intense "Breakdown" with this follow-up, which is a mostly Americanized version of "Das Boot." There is undeniable tension, gripping camera-work and jaw-dropping suspense all throughout this breakneck-paced action adventure. It reminded me, in terms of style and craftsmanship, of the terrific "Executive Decision."

U-571 is more corny than K-19, but it's also more riveting.

This movie is wildly inaccurate. The American Navy had fuck all to do with acquiring enigma machines. But that's not the point.

The point is: depth charges. Depth charges must be one of the most suspenseful cinematic devices out there. Get some good editing, a great set, and a little Harvey Keitel and you've got yourself a stew going. All the interpersonal conflicts and subplots are thin, but they keep things interesting until the back half with all the depth charges. The last hour is adrenaline excellence.

McConaughey and the surrounding ensemble all do good work. It just takes one guy who cannot convincingly look up at the ceiling while sweating to ruin your submarine movie. Thankfully that doesn't happen here.

Fun fact: my dad and stepmom rented this on video when I was about 9 and I immediately had claustrophobic nightmares.

A 15 years later rewatch U-571 proves to be a solid submarine thriller. While its historical accuracy is highly questionable, the level of action and tension created when an American Navy crew overtakes a German U boat is quite unbelievable. I find it hard to believe Navy mission are that exciting but that's why it's a great work of fiction. In the confined space, so much of the tension builds just from looking at maps and meters and the isolated sonar beeps. I'd call it less of a war movie and more of an exciting undersea adventure.

Blatantly historically inaccurate as it may be, U-571 is a tense, suspenseful, and truly claustrophobic submarine thriller featuring terrific performances, great set pieces, excellent cinematography and pacing, and engaging characters.

U-571 is a solid, well-paced submarine action thriller with terrific set pieces, great tension and suspense, good performances, and excellent sound design. It's not a very strong film in terms of character depth, but it's definitely worth a watch.

Oh my, I love U boat movies and this one is one of the best with a magnificent cast. Good one.

Czasem daje znać o stawce w wyjątkowym, gęstym klimacie na pokładzie łodzi podwodnej. Natomiast z drugiej, narracyjnej strony Das Boot to nie jest.

All sense of believability is thrown overboard in favor of generic war drama that largely did not interest me. It is well shot though and I admit the premise was actually kind of clever, if not the execution. 5/10 closer to a 5.5 than 4.5

-- Backlog

Oddly enough, I enjoyed this more than The Hunt for Red October.

𝟔,𝟕/𝟏𝟎

Another world war 2 movie but with submarines

Heerlijke no nonsense actiefilm met stevige cast. Niet de meest geloofwaardige film...but who cares...it entertains

Really mediocre submarine movie. It’s fun that Jon Bon Jovi is in it. Good shootout scene

This felt like a spaceship sci-fi movie that just happened to take place on submarines. The actors were too heavily costumed for their acting to show and so it was lead by its plot, which I thought was horribly difficult to follow. They deserved their Best Sound Oscar though.

Ignoring the historical inaccuracy slash achievement thievery, U-571 hits every possible stereotype but still manages to be at least passably entertaining.

Not the most subtle or eloquent film, but the quintessential dad movie. You want some stakes, you want some action, and you want it against the backdrop of some masculine enterprise. Mission accomplished.

Fun as hell and very tense but gets cornier as it goes along.

Kinda good!!