K-19: The Widowmaker
This is an awful movie saved by the suspenseful antics of Harrison Ford and Liam Neeson. Liam Neeson plays the captain of the K-19, a big Russian submarine them Americans don't know about. The crew is really close, with Neeson acting as its father. But soon, after construction slowdowns, inferior parts, and unsuccessful tests, it's decided that a new captain is needed. In comes Harrison Ford to save the day. Neeson would serve as the Executive Officer. Next, the champagne bottle doesn't break and the doctor dies before the test voyage begins. The crew unofficially names it the Widowmaker. Ford leads them near the Arctic Circle where after the successful launch of their missile, the nuclear reactor starts acting up. So, it's up to Ford and Neeson to control a bubbling reactor and a bubbling crew.

The plot holes are as wide as a hull breach. People just keep switching back and forth (alliances, languages, etc.) like they just don't care. The accents are awful. You can't tell who's American and who's Russian. Ford seems to play a mean captain and then suddenly becomes a nice one later on. I thought it was hilarious how he kept testing the crew over and over again. Neeson seems itching to take control of the ship but never makes a move, shown later on to be loyal to his captain. The boat, seen as inept in the first third of the movie, suddenly becomes an indestructible machine in its second act before it falls apart again. There are other things but it might spoil the movie so I won't divulge in the details. But even with its shortfalls, K-19 is very suspenseful and is helped along greatly by its two main characters, who carry the movie until its Private Ryan-type ending. 2.5 stars