The Film Buffa: 'Last Breath' does an incredible true story proud
A fine cast and no frills approach help Alex Parkinson's film stand out.
A saturation diver’s job is unique. With 20,000 miles of pipeline at the bottom of the oceans that requires maintenance, a team of humans board a giant ship in separate pods that drop deep into the water for them to do their work. Their operation is powered by an electrical system that controls the oxygen to the divers and the equipment that helps the task at hand. Losing that, coupled with a heavy storm on the water, presented a problem for three divers many years ago.
Based on a true story, Alex Parkinson’s gripping film takes that setup and delivers one of the most loyal-to-the-real-thing cinema tales in quite some time. There’s no fluff required with an isolated survival story like the one surrounding Chris Lemons. Played with the right amount of innocence and charisma by Finn Cole, he’s the diver who gets stranded without oxygen at the bottom of the north sea, causing his teammates in the saturation pod (Woody Harrelson and Simu Liu) to wait in vain for a chance to go get him.
Parkinson’s no frills approach to telling a true story is what makes this a dynamic thriller with some staying power for multiple viewings. Once you’ve seen it once and chewed all of your fingernails off, the next couple of viewings should still work for a solid 90 minutes of entertainment that travels on realistic waters. The lack of Hollywood fluff is what helps the movie stand tall. Instead of inserting extra drama or heroics, everything is presented as is and given to the actors to create something memorable.
Harrelson is the kind of trusted cinema presence that makes any part approachable, but he gives Duncan Allcock a layer of gravitas and wit that propels third act scenes. He’s always comfortable in his own skin, no matter which genre he’s living in at the moment. A true chameleon, Woody gives some weight to a veteran diver who is overseeing his final mission (the company’s request, not his). In a role that doesn’t ask for much, he gives it more.
Liu is well-known for his part in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Shang-Chi: The Legend of the Ten Rings, but it’s nice to see him in something similar yet down to earth. He still gets to be a hero; just one that can pull a thick cord attached to a human up a few hundred feet beneath the dangerous ocean in the land. Built like sheet rock and displaying a tough guy bravado that blends seamlessly with Woody’s soulful take and Cole’s earnest approach.
Don’t sleep on the supporting cast, though. Lesser known yet still strong-caliber talents like Cliff Curtis, Mark Bonner, MyAnna Buring, Bobby Rainsbury outkick the coverage of ordinary written roles like the pregnant fiance back home or the ship captain who has to make crucial calls.
Everyone is dedicated to the task of getting the story right in order to honor the men and women who had to strain their nerve endings that night to correct a mission gone wrong. Losing power takes on a whole new meaning when you’re a giant ship in the open water with a pod underwater. They don’t call the saturation diver job one of the most dangerous jobs on the Earth for no reason.
Last Breath’s technical achievements are also a strong player here. In a Michael Bay-helmed true story, there would be big heroic jumps and then small cutaways where the electronics and machinations are on display. Riveting for sure, but also manufactured on a computer out of someone’s brain. In Parkinson’s film, the audience is treated to all the inner workings and details of the mission. You’re pulled in tight with conviction.
The movie says a lot without having to produce monologues or speeches. It’ll drain your own nerves but never toy with your patience, creating a unique experience. It’s the first time I’ve left a movie this year and thought to myself, “wow.” In actuality, it’s the best thing I’ve seen in a while and there will be more viewings. There’s no Oscar weight being thrown around here. Just the idea of telling a true story right down the middle with the nuts and bolts included, minus extra fluff.
Alex Parkinson and company succeeded. Don’t miss this one. Take the family and friends. The end credits reveal some amazing things about the tale and what these divers do for the world. Finally, Last Breath is a movie theater experience that stands above others. See it in a big room with some good people and snacks. It’ll pull you out of the messy reality that is the world outside the theater, even if for just 90 minutes.