White Squall (1996)
Average Rating: 5.8/10
Reviews Counted: 34
Fresh: 21 | Rotten: 13
Though it gets occasionally bogged down by touchy-feely sentiment, White Squall benefits greatly from Jeff Bridges' assured lead performance and Ridley Scott's visceral, exciting direction.
Average Rating: 6.2/10
Critic Reviews: 14
Fresh: 9 | Rotten: 5
Though it gets occasionally bogged down by touchy-feely sentiment, White Squall benefits greatly from Jeff Bridges' assured lead performance and Ridley Scott's visceral, exciting direction.
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Average Rating: 3.2/5
User Ratings: 18,174
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Movie Info
Based on a true incident from 1960, White Squall is the story of the tragic sinking of the Albatross, a prep school educational two-masted schooner, during a Caribbean storm. Screenwriter Todd Robinson wrote the script after meeting one of the tragedy's survivors, Chuck Gieg. In the film, Gieg (Scott Wolf) is the narrator. He and his fellow students, whose parents have paid handsomely for their schooling, which combines classroom work with real-life adventure, are introduced to their grizzled
Feb 2, 1996 Wide
Jun 22, 1999
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Cast
-
Jeff Bridges
Sheldon "Skipper" -
Caroline Goodall
Dr. Alice Sheldon -
John Savage
McCrea -
Scott Wolf
Chuck Gieg -
Jeremy Sisto
Frank Beaumont -
Ryan Phillippe
Gil Martin -
Becky Ann Baker
Ms. Boyde -
Balthazar Getty
Tod Johnstone -
Zeljko Ivanek
Sanders -
Jason Marsden
Shay Jennings -
Julio Oscar Mechoso
Girard Pascal -
James Medina
Cuban Commander -
James Rebhorn
Tyler -
David Selby
Francis Beaumont -
Jordan Clarke
Charles Gieg -
Lizbeth MacKay
Middy Gieg -
Eric Michael Cole
Dean Preston -
Ethan Embry
Tracy Lapchick -
David Lascher
Robert March -
Camilla Overbye Roos
Bregitta -
Charlotte Anderson
Danish School Girl -
Emily Chittell
Danish School Girl -
Nynne Christiansen
Danish School Girl -
Anja Clausen
Danish School Girl -
Andrew Hartley
Crew Member -
Mette Hocke
Danish School Girl -
Nathaniel Ives
Relief Bo'sun -
Lene Kristensen
Danish School Girl -
Jill Larson
Peggy Beaumont -
Nicole Ann Samuel
Girl In Brothel -
Jordan Scott
Danish School Girl -
Keith Peyton Thomas
Crew Member -
Anita Weider
Danish School Girl -
Chris J. Condon
Crew Member
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All Critics (34) | Top Critics (14) | Fresh (21) | Rotten (13) | DVD (4)
The filmmakers take a rather facile, anachronistic "Oprah"-esque approach toward the boys' feelings about their families and the Skipper's role as a "tough love"-minded surrogate father.
Top CriticThis particular landlubber felt like jelly for the rest of the day, notwithstanding the hokey courtroom showdown that closes the picture.
Despite great scenery, the distinctive visual ideas of Mr. Scott (Alien, Blade Runner) and the strong dramatic presence of Mr. Bridges, most of White Squall remains listless and tame.
Typically, Bridges gives a deftly understated performance uncluttered by vanity or shallow pathos. No wonder he's not a star.
The 20 or so minutes we spend with the Albatross in the squall is high adventure, to be sure. Everything else is ballast.
Director Ridley Scott, who more than anyone else founded post-1960s visceral filmmaking, is at the top of his form in White Squall.
An old-fashioned, white-knuckle adventure with the excellent Bridges adding another great characterization to his increasingly impressive resume.
Bridges puts his shoulder to the wheel and impresses audiences.
An Excellent Picture. It doesn't get any better
Stunning ocean visuals and a gut-wrenching storm sequence. An underrated and very good coming of age story.
Dead Poets Society goes to the high seas in this overly ambitious tale of 13 young men aboard a floating prep school vessel. Their rite of passage is the core element in this all-spit and no-polish production.
Unengaging maritime thriller from Ridley Scott. Good cast, but fails to connect.
This is a very solid film with strong acting performances to boost it, excellent photography and a good soundtrack.
Daring and dramatic film about the passage of a group of young boys who come of age during their adventures at sea.
If the focus had been on the characters' experiences instead of the white squall, much more of the movie would have made a lasting impression.
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I find this visually unimaginative and dramatically uneven film that is fatally overlong also. Things are not helped by the horrible dialogue and the below average acting.
The young cast is clearly trying so very hard but with material like this, there is nothing they can do. When it comes to Jeff Bridges and his performance as a disciplined captain of Albatross, i find it way too stiff and blank for his own good.
It feels like Scott himself was on vacation while making this film. White Squall is well meaning film and tries to tell a important and tragic story, but unfortunately it fails badly. It is actually quite a disaster itself in Scott's own filmography. The whole film sinks way before the story's tragic accident is shown. By the time we get there the storm has already torn this film into tiny pieces.
What a mess and what a disappointment this film is.