With being my father’s second favorite film (Jaws being the first), I had a bit of a predisposition to loving this movie. Once I rewatched it now, I realized this is actually just an awesome film. The scale of this entire movie is tremendous. The skill in acting delivers everywhere on the screen, even if the accents don’t come into play. The writing is solid and the visuals simply just land. I knew I wasn’t wrong for loving this movie as a kid, and on this rewatch, it showed that I now love it even more. I can’t overstate the levels of craft used in this picture, and I hope those who see it today will understand as well. 

The cast of ‘The Hunt For The Red October’ (1990) is remarkable. There is enough star power on the screen, where there is simply no case this movie could be bad. Sean Connery and Alec Baldwin both star opposite of each other in very different roles. Connery being the brute Russian naval captain whose plans are more complex than we could imagine. Baldwin is the young yet intelligent CIA operative, who happens to have the name Jack Ryan. On top of these two, the rest of the cast includes some fantastic Hollywood names. Scott Glenn, Sam Neill, James Earl Jones, Richard Jordan, Tim Curry, and one of my all time favorites, Stellan Skarsgård. Each actor delivers some fantastic dialogue, and wonderful performances that really prove the cut of their sails. 

John McTiernan delivers this film after the massive success of ‘Die Hard’ (1988). Before that he would also make the legendary action film, ‘Predator’ (1987). Even in the ladder part of his career, though he would wable a bit, he still would make films like ‘Last Action Hero’ (1993), ‘Die Hard With A Vengeance’ (1995), ‘The Thomas Crown Affair’ (1999), and ‘The 13th Warrior’ (1999). This film, ‘The Hunt For Red October’ (1990) seemingly is the turning point of his career, but he still went out with all the punches. The craft out into this film is not just from the actors, but behind the camera as well. There is so much going on, and the exact cuts and movements are what make this movie one of the greats. 

The scale of this entire film is hard to ignore. Obviously the scale of how many actors is impressive, and the wide shots of action help as well. Once you really understand what you’re viewing though, it’s something of a leviathan. The long camera angles of the Red October rising and submerging are just stuffing. With the epic score playing it all out makes for an even more exciting viewing. The booming noise and the explosive enters just helps fuel the visuals shown. It truly is a jaw dropping sequence to see the submarine rise from the water, and the fact that it looks as amazing as it does is all the better. Never underestimate the scale of a film, especially when it looks this good. 

By the time of this films release in 1990 the Cold War was already coming to an end. Officially being over the following year, it was apparent how it would all go. Now that didn’t stop Hollywood from playing into our fears. This entire picture centers around a naval captain defecting from Russia, and the USA not knowing what the situation truly is. There is a horror luring underneath, and it has a real staging power. The fear of the unknown plays a big part, but the Soviet army does too. There is a lot that happens throughout the film, and the fact it can play into the contemporary fear of the time and still be a hit is all the more remarkable.

I love a great submarine film, they always have a level of intensity other films can’t bring. The older ones even have such an intensity to them, it’s no wonder they were always so popular. ‘The Enemy Below’ (1957) and ‘Run Silent, Run Deep’ (1958) are two great examples of the 1950’s versions of these films. ‘Das Boot’ (1981) is perhaps the most famous of the bunch, which would help go in and inspire this film and ‘Crimson Tide’ (1995). There is nothing like an intense battle under the sea, where the stress of water pressure pushes in the submarine, just as the torpedos wiz by. It is a perfect set up for intense films, and ‘The Hunt For Red October’ (1990) is no different.

Like I said, I pretty much grew up having to love this movie, so I figured on this most recent rewatch I would find it overhyped. On the contrary though, I think I enjoy the movie more than I thought I would, and it truly will be a staple in my film watching life. The whole cast is exceptionally supportive of one another, and the directing manages to carry so much too. I just love how big the film feels, even when it’s confined to small quarters. This is just a treat if a film, and I’m already getting ready to give it another rewatch very soon.