Overview
In 2016, Peter Berg directed an American disaster film called Deepwater Horizon, which was adapted from a 2010 New York Times piece “Deepwater Horizon’s Final Hours” by Matthew Michael Carnahan and Matthew Sand. The film recounts the story of the deadly explosion in an offshore drilling rig known as Deepwater Horizon, operated by Transocean and leased by BP, which is set in the Gulf of Mexico.
The explosion on April 20, 2010, is known for claiming the lives of 11 workers and causing the largest oil spill in history United States. The film pays tribute to the daring corporate men and women who worked on the rig, but at the same time, highlights the tragedies and failures of corporate systems and negligence.
Plot Summary
The movie begins by highlighting Mike Williams, the primary electronics technician of Deepwater Horizon, which is performed by Mark Wahlberg. He is seen at home with his wife, Felicia, played by Kate Hudson, and daughter, getting ready for a normal 21 day turn in on the rig. Other notable players include the rig’s offshore installation manager, Jimmy Harrell, played by Kurt Russell, and a dynamic positioning officer Andrea Fleytas depicted by Gina Rodriguez.
When Harrell and Williams arrive at the rig, they receive the unsettling intel that one of the critical safety tests has not been completed. On the rig, BP executives led by Donald Vidrine (played by John Malkovich) are eager to reduce expenses and avoid delays. They drive the crew to work on the well, even though the well’s pressure is unstable. BP management has ignored critical safety protocols. This sets us on a perilous course.
Shortly after starting to drill, a catastrophic blowout occurs. This kills anyone who works on the site. The crude oil and gas erupt from the drilling well, causing massive explosions. Fires of unimaginable scale are unleashed, causing the rig to ignite. The crew struggles to escape the structure, and in the process save as many people as they can.
Mike is one of the many people who display extraordinary acts of valor. To allow others to evacuate, he places himself in danger. Alongside her team, Andrea attempts to send out distress signals, while Harrell, despite being burned, is still trying to organize emergency response actions. The film concludes with a montage of the crew who made it out returning to their home, traumatized. This is juxtapositioned with the final tribute of the 11 crew members who died.
Cast and Characters
Mark Wahlberg as Mike Williams: The main character and an actual survivor of the event. Williams is depicted as a jack of all trades as he is a technical expert and a family man in the middle of unthinkable events.
Kurt Russell as Jimmy Harrell: “Mr. Jimmy” is the stiff yet sympathetic boss figure as he is a safety enforcer.
John Malkovich as Donald Vidrine: A BP executive depicted as dismissive of safety warnings, embodying corporate recklessness.
Gina Rodriguez as Andrea Fleytas: Young officer who, during the events of the incident, plays a critical part in notifying the Coast Guard.
Kate Hudson as Felicia Williams: Mike’s wife who emotionally anchors the film while waiting for news.
Ethan Suplee, Dylan O’Brien and Others: Complete the cast as rig workers and supporting roles.
Themes and Symbolism
- Corporate Negligence and Greed
The core of the film is the battle of safety concerning people and corporations. The BP executives show unresponsive behavior and, for the sake of saving money and time, choose to disregard safety protocols. The disaster is depicted as an “accident” as the greedy choices behind the scenes were not to be “accidentally” avoided.
- Heroic Acts during a Catastrophe
Amid the disorder, the film highlights the heroism and resilience of the rig workers. The film showcases the notable acts of heroism, which includes Mike Williamsremaining calm under pressure, Harrell’s leadership, and the devotion the crew displays towards each other’s lives.
- Nature’s Power and Consequences
Uncontrollable gushes of both oil and fire exemplifies Nature’s sheer force. This film shows the extent to which humanity’s advancements in technology can become fragile and ultimately, lose their meaning to nature’s force, especially during moments where overconfidence replaces caution.
- Family and Humanity
Mikes’s deep bond with his wife and daughter marks a poignant moment in the narrative. Their relationship gets strained, yet ultimately comes back stronger due to the ordeal. The emotional consequences involves all survivors, which conveys the idea that while the event may have been industrial in nature, the consequences were highly personal in nature.
Production and Realism
Known for his works in Lone Survivor and Patriots Day, director Peter Berg is a stickler for realism. As part of the production, he constructed one of the largest sets in cinema history by building a massive replica of the Deepwater Horizonrig. This film receives its grit and immersion from the strong sense of reality due to the use of practical effects over heavy CGI.
The film explains the operation of the rig including mud circulation, blowout preventers, and pressure tests. Although the film takes some artistic liberties, it primarily follows the actual timeline of events and accounts given by the survivors.
Reception and Box Office
Critics and audiences have praised the reception of Deepwater Horizon. The film received praise for its direction, acting, and violence-filled parts blowout scenes, which were described as breathtaking and terrifying. Deepwater Horizon was hailed for being one of the few disaster films that were not only entertaining, but also thought-provoking.
Regardless of the praise received, the film was not a success at the box office. The film had a budget of about $110 million shot and gained only $121 million worldwide, with profits to be gained only after the marketing and distribution were covered. Despite the shortcomings at the box office, the film did win two Academy Awards for Best Sound Editing and Best Visual Effects.
Cultural and Ethical Impact
The film sparked conversations about offshore drilling, the environment, and the responsibility of companies to act lawfully and ethically. Within the film, the victims are highly regarded but the film does also show the harsh responsibilities of the company for caring less for the consequences of their actions.
The real-life oil spill had an extreme negative impact on the environment by poisoning over a thousand miles of coastline, along with the blatant destruction of wildlife. While the movie centers on the human fatalities and explosion, it, in a way, points towards the greater environmental consequences of oil drilling on the ocean floor.
Conclusion
Additional to the disaster film it is labeled, “Deepwater Horizon” a few of the notable and commendable features of the film are its performances and visuals. They, along with the well written script provide the flick with an emotional dimension, allowing viewers to view the complex and tragic incident with an empathetic lens.
The commecial outcome of the movie was not what is was looking for, though its impact for the telling of history still remains. Capturing the industrial despair and at the same time, human resilience in the face of the unexplainable. When looking back at the event, the movie ensuring the viewers must not only recall the blast, but also the indtegral multi-dimensionality of the blast.
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