K-19: The Widowmaker

Plot

When Russia's first nuclear submarine malfunctions on its maiden voyage, the crew must race to save the ship and prevent a nuclear disaster.

Release Year: 2002

Rating: 6.5/10 (28,496 voted)

Critic's Score: 58/100

Director:
Kathryn Bigelow

Stars: Harrison Ford, Sam Spruell, Peter Stebbings

Storyline
The story of USSR's first nuclear ballistic submarine, which suffered a malfunction in its nuclear reactor on its maiden voyage in the North Atlantic in 1961. The submarine's crew, led by the unyielding Captain Alexi Vostrikov, races against time to prevent a Chernobyl-like nuclear disaster which threatens not only the lives of his crew, but has the potential to ignite a world war between the super powers.

Writers: Louis Nowra, Christopher Kyle

Cast:

Sam Spruell
–

Dmitri

Peter Stebbings
–

Kuryshev

Christian Camargo
–

Pavel

Roman Podhora
–

Lapinsh

Sam Redford
–

Vasily

Steve Nicolson
–

Demichev

Liam Neeson
–

Capt. Mikhail Polenin

Ravil Isyanov
–

Suslov

Tim Woodward
–

Partonov

Lex Shrapnel
–

Kornilov

Shaun Benson
–

Leonid

Kris Holden-Ried
–

Anton

(as Kristen Holden-Ried)

Dmitry Chepovetsky
–

Sergei

Christopher Redman
–

Kiklidze

Tygh Runyan
–

Maxim

Taglines:
Fate has found its hero.

Details

Official Website:
Filmax [Spain] |
OFFICIAL SITE |

Release Date: 19 July 2002

Filming Locations: Gimli, Manitoba, Canada

Box Office Details

Budget: $100,000,000

(estimated)

Opening Weekend: $12,778,459
(USA)
(21 July 2002)
(2828 Screens)

Gross: $35,168,966
(USA)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

138 min

Did You Know?

Trivia:

The meter used in the scene where the ships doctor is checking the radiation dosimeters by inserting them into a dosimeter reader is not actually a reader at all. It is a modified Hewlett Packard (now Agilent) HP3555A/B Transmission Level/Noise test set used by telephone and communications technicians. This actual meter was not developed by HP until several years after the K19 incident. The method for reading dosimeters at the time was to look through them (like you would a telescope) and read the progression of an indicator on a ruler like scale.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes:
The CGI helicopter that flies close over the two soviet submarines doesn't cause a wake on the ocean.

Quotes:

[first lines]

Capt. Mikhail Polenin:
All compartments: report readiness!

User Review

It is funny to see how most, if not all comments, except the American ones regarding K-19 really praised it and really enjoyed it. It must be half a century of propaganda, not Harrison Ford's accent.

Rating: 10/10

K-19 is a unique entry with a poignant portrayal of the other side of the
Iron Curtain, showing the rest of the world the courage and the honour of
the Russians to their mother land. Those who think of Russians, usually
think of blood thirsty killing beasts who drink Vodka all day, but
clearly
this is just propaganda. I have Russian background and I have grown up
around ethnics, and Russians are no different than the general public. It
is
American propaganda that has taken the rest of the world from
understanding
the Russian people. In K-19, the Russians are finally portrayed as human
beings in the most harshest of all circumstances. This is not an action
movie and it was not intended to be one. Most of the American comments
shown
here on Imdb are ridiculous. They clearly show the American expectations
in
a movie: It has to be a blow up, explosion filled, guns and bullets, kill
your enemy blockbuster to make it into their best films ever list. K-19
however did not want to impress the Americans with special effects (it
seems
to the general American public that special effects are all that make
quality movies these days) but instead wanted to show the world that
Russian
soldiers were not cold blooded murderers and were not war thirsty, but
were
soldiers under extreme circumstances – to show the struggle on the other
side and to show the fear of death and the courage and heroics in
preventing
nuclear war, subsequently sparking World War III.

I was really impressed that at least some of the American comments were
realistic, for anybody who understands cinema would classify this as a
"masterpiece". I have come across many hilariously stupid and ridiculous
American comments where they think they know what they are talking about
and
the thing is, they don't. Harrison Ford and Liam Neeson pulled off a
brilliant realistic performance. In my opinion, their accents were very
well done (I am Russian, so I would know) and the direction was splendid
(a
benchmark in sub film history with its claustrophobic sense and close
direction). I felt really sorry for the characters, especially for the
Nuclear Reactor Officer. The Kirov Orchestra pulled off one of the
greatest
soundtracks that I have ever heard (really powerful and striking pieces)
and
the general Russian feel throughout the film was "Authentic".

I was truly struck by this film. It sent shivers down my spine. The
settings, the story telling, the performances, the direction, the music,
the
tension, the interaction and chemistry between the characters, the
authenticity and best of all the cast truly made this film a
"masterpiece".
Thank you to one great "American" film director (Kathryn Bigelow) for
waking
up and seeing the Russians in a different light.

This movies is certainly a 10/10.