I’ve always enjoyed submarine movies, and this one seemed like it had potential. Gene Hackman plays the seasoned Captain of the USS "Alabama," accompanied by a new Executive Officer, Denzel Washington, as they're deployed during a tense situation in Russia that could lead to nuclear conflict. As their mission unfolds, these two characters circle each other, evaluating and challenging until they receive the order to launch missiles. This is where I expected things to get really gripping. The captain wants to follow instructions, while the XO feels it’s important to confirm everything. Their disagreements escalate, and when a Russian submarine unexpectedly attacks, events spiral out of control. It becomes unclear who's right, and whether or not they will actually fire. Unfortunately, at that point, the movie descends into silliness; the initially well-paced scenes between the two men devolve into unbelievable displays of in-group behavior – the final third is hard to accept. Hackman and Washington are adequate, but neither truly makes a strong impression before an ending that significantly undermines the entire film. What could have been a compelling exploration of how far individuals will go to adhere to commands or procedures under pressure simply isn't realized. It’s disappointing, really.

Source on TMDB