Crimson Tide 1995
CRIMSON TIDE
A tense submarine thriller about a clash of wills between Captain Frank Ramsey (Gene Hackman) and his Executive Officer, Lt. Cmdr. Ron Hunter (Denzel Washington), aboard the USS Alabama.
Directed by Tony Scott and known for its high-tension dialogue, the film focuses on the philosophical, ethical, and military responsibilities of nuclear command.
My thoughts/Review:
Wow what a ride, this one really reminded me of just how great films used to be. The cast is absolutely stellar. Washington and Hackman both have such a commanding presence but feel very much like their own characters. The build up to their clashing wills is so good and the contextual setup raises the stakes so high. The supporting cast is great too with a lot of familiar faces like Viggo Mortenson, James Gandolfini, and Steve Zahn among others!
The Russian terrorist was played by Daniel von Bargen. His screen time is limited thankfully as all I could see was George Castanza's boss!
The scenes are shot beautifully and again it reminds me how dull and predictable so many shots our in most modern tv and movies. Great lighting, tight spaces, lots of little details and personality to the different spaces. You get a sense of the claustrophobia and dread of the unknown they feel as they see a random red spot on a radar and they have no clue who controls the enemy sub.
I also get some star trek vibes (there's even a reference) about chain of command, people acting with excellence under high stress, working as a team, clear communication etc.
The hum of the engine is heard throughout which gives this constant feeling of tension.
It was a very well edited film as well with no time wasted, every scene had a point and pushed the story or fleshed out the characters efficiently. Sometimes just a glance or expression.
I really enjoyed this one and would highly recommend it if you haven't checked it out. I think I'm gonna have to go on a bit of a Submarine Movie Binge now! Hunt For Red October and K19 i think next. Would love any other suggestions
Posted Feb 25, 2026, 5:40 AM UTC