DVD Movie Rating for: U-571

3 out of 5

Movie Plot of: U-571

In the midst of World War II, the battle below the seas rages. The Nazi's have the upper edge as the Allies are unable to crack their war codes. That is, until a wrecked U-boat sends out an SOS signal, and the Allies realise this is their chance to seize the 'enigma coding machine'. But masquerading as Nazi's and taking over the U-boat is the smallest of their problems. The action really begins when they get stranded on the U-boat.

In the battle front of espionage and code cracking of World War II, there remains but one task on the Allied agenda: the capture of a German "Enigma" machine which will allow the Allied naval forces to locate and track submerged German U-Boat submarines. When one such German vessel breaks down after a battle with British forces, a secret mission is dispatched to take over the U-Boat by commando American forces and retrieve an Enigma machine intact. The raid goes well, at first, yet following the destruction of the American mothership and the arrival of reenforcement German ships, the Americans trapped on the U-Boat must use their training and wits to pilot U-571 in order to save their lives.

DVD Production Details of: U-571

Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Bill Paxton

Director: Jonathan Mostow

Format: Color, Closed-captioned, DTS Surround Sound, Widescreen, Dolby

Studio: Universal Studios

DVD Release Date: January 7, 2003
DVD Features:
Commentary by director Jonathan Mostow

Audio Commentary

Making Of

Interviews with the Cast & Crew

Inside the Enigma

Britain captures the U-110

A submariner's WWII experience

U.S. Naval archives: Capturing the U-505

Widescreen anamorphic format

Cast of the movie: U-571

• Matthew McConaughey .... Lt. Andrew Tyler, Executive Officer
• Bill Paxton .... Lt. Cmdr. Mike Dahlgren
• Harvey Keitel .... CPO Henry Klough
• Jon Bon Jovi .... Lt. Pete Emmett, Chief Engineer
• David Keith .... Maj. Matthew Coonan, USMC, Office of Naval Intelligence
• Thomas Kretschmann .... Capt.-Lt. Gunther Wassner
• Jake Weber .... Lt. Hirsch, USNR
• Jack Noseworthy .... Seaman Bill Wentz, Radioman
• Tom Guiry .... Seaman Ted 'Trigger' Fitzgerald, Radioman
• Will Estes .... Seaman Ronald 'Rabbit' Parker, Torpedoman
• Terrence 'T.C.' Carson .... Steward Eddie Carson
• Erik Palladino .... Seaman Anthony Mazzola, Planesman
• Dave Power .... Seaman Charles 'Tank' Clemens, Machinist Mate
• Derk Cheetwood .... Seaman Herb Griggs, Helmsman
• Matthew Settle .... Ens. Keith Larson, Chief Torpedoman

Photo Gallery of the movie: U-571

Click on one of the thumbnails to see the full size, high resolution photographs

U-571

Reviews of the movie: U-571

Taut and gripping, U-571 follows the exploits of a fictional team of World War II U.S. submariners who undertake a secret mission to capture a German Enigma machine to decode German documents. Writer-director Jonathan Mostow (Breakdown) tells an intense, economical tale, reminiscent of the best classic war films, while infusing it with modern sentiments.

Spring 1942: A crew of young submarine sailors are on a much-needed 48-hour liberty when they're suddenly called together and engaged in an expedition. At the helm are Lieutenant Commander Mike Dahlgren (Bill Paxton), Lieutenant Andrew Tyler (Matthew McConaughey), and Chief Klough (Harvey Keitel). Other pivotal crew members include Tyler's Annapolis pal Lieutenant Pete Emmett (Jon Bon Jovi, proving his acting mettle) and Lieutenant Hirsch (Jake Weber), who, along with Marine Major Coonan (David Keith), organizes the mission. As much of the movie takes place in a submarine during WWII, there are inevitable comparisons with the technical masterpiece Das Boot, but Mostow's masterfully shot tale can hold its own.

McConaughey's Tyler is believably earnest as he comes to grips with the reality, tragedy, and consequence of being in command. While this explosion-filled film consistently maintains its tense pace (as did the underrated Breakdown), it also presents with surprising restraint a genuine human story--and the remarkable journey of an unexpected hero.

Most excellent war flic
Enough tension here to give any Navy Seal a permanent case of the bends. We are shown all the usual sub warfare movie tricks: depth charges, torpedoes [one horrifyingly graphic], water leaks, the old surface debris dodge, sweating men staring tensely at the overhead, gruffly barked orders, the tough old salt, etc. Even though it was your typical war film, I still rate it as a 5 star actioner.