Based on a remarkable true story, Last Breath takes audiences below the surface of the ocean for a grounded, gripping thriller about survival and hope.
Last Breath Review
Two things humanity has very little knowledge about are outer space and the ocean. One could even argue that we know less about the ocean's depths than we do space. Water covers the majority of Earth and to this day remains vastly uncharted and unexplored because humans are simply not made to endure the crushing power of the deep blue. However, there are certain parts of the ocean that mankind must venture to – namely the areas where pipelines run, bringing power to homes all over the globe. Just like rocketing off to space, diving into the dark, murky waters always comes with a risk no matter how often or successful past missions have been. That very real danger is what Last Breath brings to the screen.
In 2019, Richard da Costa and Alex Parkinson directed a documentary by the same name that told the story of a diver who became trapped underwater during a routine check on a pipeline in the North Sea. Parkinson, who co-wrote the script with Mitchell LaFortune and David Brooks, has returned to give the documentary a cinematic boost without losing sight of what made this story so incredible in the first place. Parkinson approaches this project with an “old school” Hollywood mentality in regards to cinematography and sound design– keeping it simple but highly effective. The result is a grounded, gripping thriller that takes viewers on one harrowing, breathless ride.
Last Breath tells the true story of Chris Lemons (Finn Cole), a deep-sea diver who spends months away from home in order to do a job no one really wants to do – perform pipeline repairs in the North Sea. This time around, he is teamed up with his mentor and friend Duncan Allcock (Woody Harrelson), a veteran in the field who is set to retire after this mission is over. As well as Dave Yuasa (Simu Liu), a grumpy “all-star diver” who refuses to sugar coat his words. With Duncan monitoring their supplies, Chris and Dave dive down to the ocean floor to begin their repairs, but when the waters shift and a freak accident occurs, Chris is left stranded in the crushing depths. Racing against the clock and impossible odds, Duncan, Dave, and the rest of the crew scramble to get to Chris with the goal being to retrieve his body dead or alive.
Despite a brisk runtime of a little over 1.5 hours, Last Breath takes a few to get going, which actually isn't a detriment. Since this is based on real events, the buildup actually keeps you invested as you are given a mini lesson on all the important steps these divers take in order to complete their jobs safely. From getting slowly pressurized (and depressurized) in order to dive to their working depths to learning about the “umbilical tether” which is exactly what it sounds like – a life line for the diver. It's a front row seat to what it takes to be a saturation diver, including some breathtaking underwater shots that I will get into more in a minute. Parkinson also spends time with the crew onboard the ship, captained by Andre Jenson (Cliff Curtis) and first officer Hanna (MyAnna Buring), offering a glimpse at the people and machinery these divers rely on.
Last Breath isn't concerned with being flashy or glossy. Parkinson with cinematographer Nick Remy Matthews doesn't aim to over-sensationalize the story either, choosing to let the facts speak for themselves. Woven into the imagery are scenes from the 2019 documentary, including some shots of the unconscious Lemons going through oxygen deprivation shock. It's not easy to watch and knowing that it's real, not “over-acted” makes it all the more gut-wrenching. Elevating this grounded approach is the powerful score by Paul Leonard-Morgan. It swells (no pun intended) as the tension mounts then ebbs away as needed, leaving us and poor Chris alone with our thoughts. In those quiet moments, the cleverness of the sound design becomes evident. Similar to the light-speed scene from Star Wars: The Last Jedi, when the sound completely drops out you sit there holding your breath, lost in the intensity of the moment. In others, the only sound you can hear is that of the water rushing around the divers. Last Breath does incredible work to put you into the water, making you feel just as isolated and anxious as the divers themselves.
The assembled cast takes their roles seriously, never being dramatic for drama's sake but rather lending the right amount of emotion to their characters as they face an insane situation. Cole is kindhearted, friendly, and genuinely likable as Chris. He's responsible for much of the film's heart and shoulders it well. Harrelson is underrated when it comes to his more dramatic performances. He brings a warmth to the cold water as Duncan, someone who has seen it all and is usually never surprised. When Chris' life hangs in the balance, Harrelson commands the screen both with his words and the feelings that are clearly simmering beneath the surface. Liu's Dave is certainly the serious one of the three and at first he comes off as too much of a hard*ss. Yet Liu's performance does give Dave more of a soul that he allows to come out gradually over the course of the film.
Verdict
Ultimately, Last Breath is a grounded, intense thriller that takes viewers on a harrowing, wild ride under the surface of the ocean. Parkinson does an incredible job retelling the true events in a way that conveys the severity of the situation without losing sight of the very real people whose lives were impacted by this story. With a classic approach to the action scenes, a cast of talented actors, a beautiful score, and smart sound design choices, Last Breath is a solid disaster flick that may end up being one of the best this year. It'll certainly keep you on the edge of your seat (even if you spoil it for yourself like I did).
Last Breath is in theaters on February 28. It is rated PG-13 for brief strong language with a runtime of 93 minutes.
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