In the Heart of the Sea

Ron Howard has made fine films, and is a great re-interpreter of history.

Apollo 13, RUSH, Cinderella Man good stuff.

Some of his work is technically ground breaking, and the man has method transparency down, usually.

This isn't a bad film, but it is variable in quality. The CGI is often "gawd awful", and editing sequences verge on stroboscopic in places.

To add to my inability to separate depiction, from over indulgence.

I saw it in an AVX theatre. Grainy, ill focused albeit vast images, and sound that supplanted detail and spatial accuracy with volume, and noise.

More is not better ( in theatre AV ), God is in the details, adages that apply.

Decent cast CV's, several notable, although none irreplaceable. Melville was photographed in life, and Ben Whishaw bears no likeness. Brendan Gleeson was OK, but didn't stretch it much. Hemsworth, decent enough, but an odd choice for a 19th century New Englander.

When it slows down and takes a long view, it fulfills, but the contrast to the rest of the film doesn't flatter.

Kinda flat, too. Tough project to make, no doubt.

Coulda, shoulda... and then you think of "Master and Commander". Better everywhere.

That's what this aspired to be.