The film stars Chris Pine as Bernie Webber and Casey Affleck as Ray Sybert, the chief engineer on the Pendleton and de facto commander after the loss of the captain and several other crewmen. The performances are all fine, but the real star of the movie is the stormy sea which the men must pit themselves against and try to survive. The monster waves are of course CGI, but it's really well done and those scenes are tense and suspenseful.
I thought the movie was quite good, though it didn't do well in theaters and got rather lukewarm reviews from critics. The Rotten Tomatoes consensus review stated: "Old-fashioned to a fault, The Finest Hours will satisfy those seeking a traditional rescue drama- but may leave more adventurous viewers wanting more." I don't know what this means, exactly. If by old-fashioned they mean it's about brave men who nobly risk their lives to save others, then I guess it is, although I don't understand why this would be considered a bad thing. As for it not satisfying "more adventurous viewers," it's about a small boat going out in a hurricane-force gale to attempt the rescue of men on a sinking ship. What exactly would these couch-bound "adventurers" prefer: aliens arriving for a firefight in the middle of the film? According to the author of the book the movie was based upon, the film sticks very closely to the actual events of the miraculous 1952 rescue, yet apparently there are critics sitting about cramming popcorn in their mouths and carping, "Not sensational enough!" Give me a break.
I suppose that one reason I appreciate this film is that I live in a Maritime province and am well aware of the complicated relationship we have with the sea. The Atlantic provides industry, employment, and enjoyment to those who live on it; Nova Scotia's license plates call us "Canada's Ocean Playground." But there is a darker side to the ocean as well- storms can be sudden, violent and deadly. Even today with all of our technology, man can be rendered helpless in the power of the forces of nature, left to struggle desperately for survival. Most of us can remember times when we've waited anxiously for word of people on a small boat, a ship, or even an oil rig, caught in storms which can raise walls of water 60 feet high- or even more- praying for their lives and the safety of those who attempt to save them. So the situation in The Finest Hours hits close to home and in my opinion it's a film worth watching.