Mutiny, from "Crimson Tide" (1995), directed by Tony Scott

A nostalgic reminder of the days when we worried about nukes more than viruses. Like the "Collectivization" scene from Land and Freedom (see previous post), this is all dialogue. But it's one of the greatest showdowns in modern cinema, crackling with tension, yet with not a punch thrown or a shot fired. Two standout actors, Denzel Washington and Gene Hackman, chew the steel-plate scenery with aplomb. I love the subtle pauses (e.g. Hackman's after "You don't appear to be calm"); the shifts in position/angle that open up the confined space; and the way the enormity of Denzel's rebellion is conveyed in his face and body language (especially right before he picks up the microphone to address the crew). Best submarine movie ever? I like this scene so much that I trimmed it properly in hi-res and posted it to Vimeo. There's a fine article about it from The Guardian, posted below.

Why I love ... the 'Captain, I cannot concur' scene in Crimson Tide (article)

---

Video and text excerpts posted on this blog are protected under the "fair use" provisions of sections 17 U.S.C. §106 and 17 U.S.C. §106A. This material is posted for educational, critical, and commentary purposes only. It is not monetized in any way, and no copyright is asserted over the posted material.