Crimson Tide poster & wallpaper

Denzel Washington, Gene Hackman, Viggo Mortensen

You can almost hear the studio pitch meeting echoing throughout Crimson Tide like the sonar on the soundtrack: "It's The Cain Mutiny on a nuclear submarine!" When radio communications pr...( read more  read more... )oblems aboard the USS Alabama prevent the sub from receiving its orders clearly during a tense confrontation with Russian warships, Navy officer Denzel Washington faces a huge ethical dilemma: countermand the orders of legendary Captain Ramsey (Gene Hackman) to fire nuclear missiles, or follow his command and risk launching an unprovoked nuclear war. It's really an actors' picture, and the fun is in the fireworks between Washington and Hackman, each of whose characters articulates solid reasoning behind his decision. There are no easy villains, and there's no easy way to tell right from wrong--that's what makes the nuclear stakes so terrifying. Director Tony Scott (who directed Quentin Tarantino's True Romance script) called in Tarantino to punch up the dialogue, which is why, for example, the sailors talk about Silver Surfer comic books. The digital video disc is in anamorphic widescreen; the sonorous underwater rumblings on the Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack will provide you with a good opportunity to show off your system's bass response. --Jim Emerson

Flixster Users

78% liked it

52,651 ratings

Critics

88% liked it

40 critics

R, 116 min.

Directed by: Tony Scott

Release Date: May 12, 1995

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DVD Release Date: February 3, 1998

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Stats: 1,932 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (1,932)

  • SirPant
    September 29, 2009
    SirPant
    Good cast and all round good film but Tony Scott's usual cheese creeps in a little too much
  • Chiefilms
    September 28, 2009
    Chiefilms
    Tension under sea with an interesting plot where you're not sure who's good or bad, right or wrong. Deals more with respect of the chain of command during extraordinary circumstances. Good cast, Washington vs. Hackman, good directing. Why do submarine movies always have someth...( read more)ing Red related in the title? Crimson Tide, Hunt for the Red October, K-19 The "Red" Widowmaker. Very Very interesting.
  • RossCollinsUK
    April 10, 2009
    RossCollinsUK
    Nuclear submarines make for a good thriller...
  • bradwest
    December 17, 2008
    bradwest
    Good thriller somewhat in the FailSafe zone. Hackman and Washington go head to head with excellent supporting cast and some borderline script doctoring from Quentin Tarantino.
  • kiriyamakazou
    August 11, 2008
    kiriyamakazou
    Crimson Tide really is a fantastic film. It's one of the most suspense ridden films I've seen due to some brilliant editing and a wonderful score. However the tension mainly comes from the amazing screenplay and flawless performances. The characters here are neither right nor wro...( read more)ng. They both have their arguments and it's just awesome watching everyone start to split into groups. The Chief of the Boat was especially great to see, as he goes by the books despite disagreeing with Washington. The chemistry between Hackman and Washington is blinding. It's friendly, respectful and then spiteful and dark. It's like Heat or The Dark Knight, a great rivalry between the two. The supporting cast do a wonderful job, showing a bunch of young soldiers thrown in the deep end where the wrong decision could mean the end of the world, and the right decision may mean the same thing. The lack of women makes this a real old school manly film, like The Great Escape or Lawrence of Arabia. These days we would have had boring scenes of the wives at home crying or something. The only tears here are at the end, because it's real manly love stuff, respect and honour. Having just found out about an extended edition I know what I'm gonna get my hands on next.
  • Yelverton
    November 13, 2009
    Yelverton
    Thought it'd be so good... it wasn't.
  • jackgbowman
    October 28, 2009
    jackgbowman
    nice play on star trek
  • magnolia12883
    October 20, 2009
    magnolia12883
    Tony Scott's submarine thriller is deeper than it at first appears, smarter than it has any right to be, very well-made and, thus, perhaps more riveting than we expect. Gene Hackman is Captain Frank Ramsey, a grizzled old man perpetually flanked by his small, vicious pet dog, who...( read more) is nearing the end of his days as commander of the U.S. nuclear submarine Alabama, which is about to bear witness to a change in weather, if you will. As the film opens, Lt. Commander Ron Hunter (Denzel Washington) is named the new second in command and it seems almost inevitable from the outset that these two will have a major difference of opinion. Indeed, the Alabama is sent to what may become the front-lines when a coded message is received: it appears that rebel Russian forces have seized some nuclear missile silos and are preparing for war. Ramsey and Hunter will soon be competing for control of the submarine, not because of macho posturing or the need to prove themselves, but because they have a severe difference in ideological beliefs, even if their intentions are the same. Ramsey is an aging old war-horse who is fully prepared, perhaps even thirsty, for battle while Hunter believes "in the nuclear world the true enemy is war itself." The difference of philosophy between these two men is at this film's center, and is far more fascinating than all the action and all the tension that the filmmakers could possibly muster, no matter how well-done. This being said, the film is, indeed, very well-made by director Tony Scott ("Top Gun," "True Romance"), a superb visual stylist who manages to be both over-the-top and melodramatic while also appearing to make uncannily appropriate visual choices throughout: dutch-angles, the use of lurid blue, green and red lighting, and hand-held whooshing pans are just a few reccurring moteifs. He manages to wring tension and a heightened sense of realism from a potentially unrealistic scenario. He may be taking his cues from the screenplay by Michael Schiffer, which is more engaging than we expect thanks to its concern with the characters, their moral integrity, and the fundamental difference between their two philosophies when it comes to the kind of conflict which may be about to erupt. He fills his cast with terrific supporting characters, some of whom are distinct if archetypal and simplistic (such as James Gandolfini and Matt Craven as fierce loyalists who side with long-time superior Hackman when the going gets rough, as well as Viggo Mortensen as a longtime colleague of Denzel Washington who becomes conflicted). I particularly liked veteran character actor George Dzundza as Cob, Chief of the Boat, who survives by his instincts - which tell him who to side with, not out of loyalty or lack thereof but out of desire to do the right thing. In the end, this is about a conflict between two men and their ideological modes of thinking, who are thrust head-first into a tough situation and forced to deal with their differences to the best of their ability while the world goes mad around them. As such, it's kind of wonderful.

    NOTE: Nominated for 3 Oscars including Editing, Sound and Sound Effects Editing.
  • RachelJezel
    September 15, 2009
    RachelJezel
    Every plot twist begs for originality, but unfortunately there is none to be had. Also, Hunt for Red October far outclasses it in every way. I suppose if you put "Hunt" and "Under Seige" together you might get this movie!
  • jscottcorley
    August 25, 2009
    jscottcorley
    Fun as hell. Look for small performances from Steve Zahn, Rick Shroeder and Ryan Phillipe.

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Critic Reviews

June 18, 2002
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

Crimson Tide has everything you could want from an action thriller and a few other things you usually can't hope to expect. full review

January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

This is the rare kind of war movie that not only thrills people while they're watching it, but invites them to leave the theater actually discussing the issues. full review

View more Crimson Tide reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments

  • abhilashgregory1985
    February 6, 2007
    abhilashgregory1985
    Clash Of the The Titans (Gene Hackman v/s Denzel Washington) + Hans Zimmer+ Marine Submarine + Nuclear War Situation=


    A Perfect And Ultimate Political Charged Entertainer by Tony Scott!

    Hats off to the titans!
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Crimson Tide Trivia

  • Of the following movies, which one Ridley Scott did not direct?  Answer »
  • Hans Zimmer won a GRAMMY AWARD for his powerful music composition for which film?  Answer »
  • Which actor links the following movies: Antwone Fisher, Philadelphia, The Pelican Brief, Crimson Tide?  Answer »
  • Which US sbumarine was used for the dockside scene in Crimson tide?   Answer »
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