In 1820 Nantucket, experienced whaler Owen (Hemsworth) is first mate on the whaling ship Essex, under the command of the elitist Captain George (Walker). A scrappy commoner, Owen just gets on with it, clashing constantly with George in the first few months, then settling into a routine. But everything changes when they encounter a pod of whales a thousand miles off the coast of Ecuador, most notably a mammoth white one that seems to take this personally, sinking the Essex and then pursuing the desperate survivors with a vengeance.

Howard doesn't have the lightest of touches, and the film almost collapses under the overwhelming period detail and digital vistas. Thankfully, the impressive visuals are balanced by a personal narrative about man's fragility and tenacity in the face of nature. This includes a whiff of current attitudes about whaling, which certainly didn't exist in the early 19th century. But this was a period when society relied on whale oil, and we know only too well the transgressions today's companies are willing to commit for fuel.

The cast is manly, bellowing out dialog that's essentially nonsensical (nautical commands ahoy!) while vaguely giving central figures a hint of back-story. Those details may feel contrived, but they establish the life these men are anxious to return to. Also, events are recounted in a framing story as author Herman Melville (Whishaw) interviews an ageing survivor (Gleeson) for his novel, which adds both context and an emotional catharsis.

In other words, every element is expertly assembled to guide the audience without giving in too badly to Hollywood conventions. There may be a sort of villain in the bullheaded captain and his corporate backers, but this is essentially a story about a determined man facing a genuinely unthinkable foe that puts him firmly in his place. It's pacey, exciting and told with an attention to both big spectacle and much more personal interaction. As in Howard's last collaboration with Hemsworth on Rush, the director seems to have discovered the power of telling a brisk, clean story well.

themes, violence, grisliness

10.Dec.15