This submarine movie, set during the Cold War, feels awkward and heavy-handed in its attempt to combine believable science with simplistic political messaging. The film’s casting choices don't help, contributing to a pervasive sense of disappointment that mirrors what the submarine itself must have experienced on its first journey. It seems inevitable that the cheap equipment on this advanced Russian vessel, the "K-1…

K-19: The Widowmaker functions as a Russian take on films like Run Silent, Run Deep and Crimson Tide, though it shares similarities with Michael Apted’s Gorky Park – which isn't necessarily a bad thing. Like Gorky Park, featuring Will Hurt and Brian Dennehy, K-19 centers around the performances of Harrison Ford and Liam Neeson, echoing roles previously played by Clark Gable, Burt Lancaster/Gene Hackman, and Denzel…