Deep Blue Sea

3/4

Starring: Saffron Burrows, Thomas Jane, Samuel L. Jackson, LL Cool J, Stellan Skarsgard, Michael Rapaport,  Jacqueline McKenzie, Aida Turturro

Rated R for Graphic Shark Attacks, and for Language

"Deep Blue Sea" is your average monster movie...except not.  Sure, there are sharks that run amok and most of the cast isn't alive by the final reel, but the script plays our expectations against us.  Just because they are famous or a main character doesn't mean they'll live to see the end credits.

Scientist Susan McCallister (Burrows) is studying sharks on board a research facility in the middle of the ocean.  She has genetically manipulated them into growing bigger so she can extract a protein that keeps the shark's brain cells from deteriorating.  But after the sharks got out, her funding may be cut off.  The pharmaceutical company sends Russell Franklin (Jackson) to oversee the extraction of the protein on time.  But something goes wrong, and the sharks, which in addition to being bigger are also smarter, intend on a feast.

The acting is effective, but director Renny Harlin has never been an actor's director.  The script is thin, and he doesn't seem to show any care about fleshing them out.  Therefore, it's hard to truly care about anyone in the film.  Burrows makes for a slightly bitchy but still sympathetic scientist.  The role of the ex-con shark handler is well within Thomas Jane's limited range, although he lacks any screen presence (the same is true of most of the cast).  Samuel L. Jackson is also very good as the unwanted guest who takes charge since he's been in a life or death situation before.  Stellan Skarsgard is also very good as Susan's co-worker.

Renny Harlin is a terrific action director.  He knows better than anyone how to stage an action scene without sending the audience into an epileptic seizure.  Unfortunately his skills when it comes to fleshing out characters into people who are more than paper thin are still lacking.  It took me three viewings to appreciate this movie.

This is a summer action movie like they used to make.  The sun is shining, real sets are used, there are no superheroes, and plenty of gore.  I miss these kinds of movies.

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