Greyhound (2020) Movie Review
Greyhound is part of the first wave of original content on Apple TV+. Set against the backdrop of World War II, Greyhound is the story of an inexperienced U.S. Navy commander named Captain Krause (Tom Hanks). During WWII, crossing the Atlantic Ocean was necessary but also incredibly perilous. There was a section of the ocean appropriately named the Black Pit. The Royal Air Force land-based aircraft couldn’t cover this stretch of the sea, so Allied convoys were susceptible to attacks from German U-boats.
Most of Greyhound takes place on the sea in the Black Pit. Krause is the captain of a destroyer and he is tasked with helping merchant ships make the crossing safely and avoid torpedoes from the German subs. Almost all of the movie takes place on board the destroyer except for a short scene at the beginning showcasing Krause and his love interest Evelyn (Elisabeth Shue). Over a five day period Krause takes command of the ship and doesn’t ever sleep as he navigates the rough seas.
This movie is incredibly technical, with an abundance of naval jargon that I enjoyed. I will be saying “I’m on the conn” anytime I’m in control of anything from now on. There’s an extraordinary amount of repeating information, which simulates how naval communication really occurs. For some, this may be annoying or hard to follow, but for others this will help to increase the tension and suspense as you watch the destroyer attempt to avoid torpedoes and hunt down German U-boats. The tension is high as you watch Krause make tough decisions and lose a few men while boats around them sink.
There isn’t a lot of plot to Greyhound, other than Krause trying to make it across the Black Pit. Likewise, there isn’t a lot of character development. In fact, most of the characters are forgettable and blend into the background with no distinct characteristics. This is Krause’s movie so by extension, it is Hanks’ movie. In addition to starring in the movie, Hanks adapted the screenplay from the novel The Good Shepherd by C.S. Forester.
Greyhound feels like it’s a true story and I was surprised to learn it is in fact fictional. That doesn’t take away from the story and I found it to be an entertaining 90 minutes. It’s fast paced and you are in battle for about 85 minutes of the movie. Director Aaron Schneider plays this one pretty straightforward, but does a fantastic job pacing the movie and moving quickly from incident to incident. Greyhound is a naval war movie through and through. If you don’t like frilly plot development or complex character journeys you’ll enjoy the tense but technically precise Greyhound.
Film or Movie: Movie
You’ll like this movie if:
1. You like war movies
2. You’re interested in the navy
3. You like World War II
