Bill Paxton, David Keith, Harvey Keitel

Lt. Commander Mike Dahlgren skippers the S-33, a vintage U.S. WWI submarine which is older than most of its crew. Even though the vessel is considered primitive and suffers numerous defects, it is a d...( read more  read more... )eadly tool in the right hands. Now it is being given the chance to prove its worth yet again, as the Americans enter World War II. Lt. Andrew Tyler is the executive officer under Dahlgren. Having just been passed over for an advancement which would have put him in command of his own submarine, Tyler boards the craft, his duty taking precedence over his pride. There, he is joined by fellow officers Lt. Pete Emmett and Ensign Larson. The enlisted men aboard the S-33 include Chief Klough, radioman Wentz, the cook Eddie, Trigger, Mazzola, Tank, Griggs and Rabbit. All ordinary men, some barely out of high school, these sailors are about to embark on a mission more dangerous and frightening then anything they could ever have imagined, but one which has the power to turn the tide of battle. Per the Admiral's command, Lt. Hirsch is taking charge of the S-33 with Marine Major Coonan. Their luggage is a large load of crates with unknown contents, contents which cannot be revealed until the submarine has cleared American waters. Once the S-33 is at sea, the mission is divulged. Like the Trojan horse of Greek mythology, their craft has been rigged to resemble a U-boat, the notorious Nazi submarine which traversed the depths of the North Atlantic. They are to rendezvous with what Lt. Hirsch assumes is a stranded German submarine, posing as Germans and capture the Enigma' machine, a valuable top-secret coding device that could help the Allies stop the incessant attacks of the deadly wolfpacks at sea. The mission must be conducted in total secrecy, as seizing this device without the enemy's knowledge is the only way for Allied intelligence to decipher their movements and put an end to the enormous losses inflicted upon convoys carrying vital supplies across the ocean. If all goes as planned, they will destroy the U-boat, take the prisoners back to the United States and the enemy will never know about their secret acquisition. Following an unexpected turn of events, this group of American sailors become trapped in the enemy's vessel, deep in hostile waters, and at a major disadvantage as to how to operate the foreign sub. The destiny of these nine ordinary men, as well as the fate of their mission, will ultimately depend on their camaraderie, their instinct, their battle against time and a battle against their own fears.

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61% liked it

50,705 ratings

Critics

68% liked it

95 critics

PG-13, 120

Directed by: Jonathan Mostow

Release Date: April 21, 2000

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DVD Release Date: October 24, 2000

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Stats: 1,923 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (1,923)


  • December 13, 2008
    Not bad, but not even remotely historically accurate.
  • December 11, 2008
    Watched it in history class, it was pretty dull and the music was very over dramatic. McConaughey looked bad overall plus sthe story line was pretty easy to figure out right from the beginning.
  • August 16, 2008
    What a dissapointment. Such a lt down with a great cast. Very historically in correct and teriably made, the actions scenes are close to impossiable you cant fire live ammo in a sub what the hell, its too teriably done and anyone with a lick of sense both historically por cinimat...( read more)icly will hate this film.
  • January 13, 2008
    I've always liked Harvey Keitel and Bill Paxton, so it pains me to see them in this typically offensive and insensitive piece of American revisionism. As others have said, the British had already captured an Enigma machine before the Americans had even entered the Second World Wa...( read more)r, and the important cryptanalysis work on the Enigma code was done first by the Polish and then the British. It would, however, be churlish to ignore the merits of the film which, if you can manage to keep your reservations in check, is efficiently made, well acted, tense and exciting at times. High praise indeed from someone who would rate the 'submarine movie' as one of the dullest sub-genres going.
  • August 20, 2007
    A solid decent film that provides intrigue and keeps you entertained throughout.
  • November 19, 2009
    best war movie i've ever seen. i wasn't expecting it to be that good. the show ended and i didn't even know what to say but "wow" it was just that good.
  • November 12, 2009
    very old exciting movie to watch.
    not bad at all
  • November 3, 2009
    Ce film est très réussi, notamment par son suspense. De nombreuses scènes semblent très réalistes, bien qu'un peu poussées à l'extrême. Et l'interprétation est irréprochable.
  • October 12, 2009
    i really don't know what i was expecting from this movie. bon jovi was in it for five minutes and then got killed off. that ruined it for me
  • September 17, 2009
    Flawed, but OK WWII film, well done.

    54/100

Critic Reviews


January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

You can enjoy U-571 as a big, dumb war movie without a brain in its head. But that doesn't stop it from looking cheesy. full review

January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, At the Movies

You can enjoy U-571 as a big, dumb war movie without a brain in its head. But that doesn't stop it from looking cheesy. full review

View more U-571 reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • rebelcountryboy2002
    June 15, 2007
    If it was the british who captured the enigma they were heroic, but if the war had lasted longer gemany would have been nuked as was the fate of japan. Honor The Fallen Soldiers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • samjohnstone
    March 21, 2007
    CRAP!-It was the British! NOT the Yanks!,who captured the Enigma machine.The Americans wernt even in the f'kn war yet!!!!!!!!!!
    What next? How the Americans won the Battle of Britain?
  • musicriseup7
    January 12, 2007
    my favorite character died in this movie but he saved everyone so im glad that he went out honorably. i love this movie

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U-571 Trivia


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