In the Heart of the Sea 

Based on the book by Nathaniel Philbrick

Directed by Ron Howard

Starring Chris Hemsworth, Benjamin Walker, Cillian Murphy, Tom Holland, Ben Whishaw, and Brendan Gleeson

Released in theaters Dec. 11, 2015

Streaming Aug. 10, 2016

When I found out that Nathaniel Philbrick’s book was the basis of a film, also titled In the Heart of the Sea, I, of course, had to watch it. And it was pretty much a disappointment.

The acting was solid. But what kept me interested was the action, the pace, the staging, the costumes, the cinematography – all the things that comprised the spectacle of the film. And because I had enjoyed the book so much, I liked seeing the story unfold. But the movie ignored what I thought was best about the book: the insights into how much lonelier and more difficult it was to be alive back then.

Critical Reception 

In the Heart of the Sea received mixed reviews from critics and was a financial failure, grossing only $93 million against a $100 million budget.

* “Howard seems caught in some no-man’s land between the poetic force of Melville’s novel and the discursive academic approach of Philbrick.” (Geoffrey Macnab, Independent/UK)

* “It’s sturdy, watchable, competently mounted, of course – Howard is nothing if not a pro – but except for the visuals, which can be quite stunning, it never roused me.” (Max Weiss, Baltimore Magazine)

* “Thor and Spider-Man fight a whale.” (Brent McKnight, Seattle Times)

You can watch the trailer here.