"Shipwreck'd"

Author(s): D.W. Dillon
Location: Las Vegas, NV

"Shipwreck'd"

Directed by Christopher Nolan
Written by Bo Goldman
Based on the novel, "The Sea Wolf" by Jack London
Cinematography by Wally Pfister
Art Direction by Bruce Crone
Edited by Dody Dorn
Costume Design by Penny Rose
Music by James Newton Howard
Produced by Christopher Nolan and Emma Thomas

Drama

Main Cast

Al Pacino - Capt. Wolf Larsen
Heath Ledger - Humprhey Van Weyden
Winona Ryder - Maude Brewster
Clive Owen - George Leach
Dennis Hopper - Cooky
Cole Hauser - Smokey

Tagline: "The sea taught them a lesson that they'd thought they'd never learn"

Synopsis: A cruise ship sinks to the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico. Three castaways board the grim fisherman schooner, "Spiritus". Humphrey Van Weyden (Heath Ledger), a timid philosophy professor. Maude Brewster (Winona Ryder), a known feminist poet. And George Leach (Clive Owen), a con man on the lam, posing as a policeman.

The crew of the "Spiritus", while seemingly ordinary grunts, are that of bullies, only to be put in their place by their abusive captain, Wolf Larsen (Al Pacino). Larsen, small by stature, is an intellectual aggressor, and contrary to Van Weyden, a man of hedonistic views with a drive for materialistic possession. Larsen's survival-of-the-fittest mentality weigh heavily on the three castaways as Van Weyden is forced to endure hard labor, while Maude Brewster is subjected to harassment by the dirty old chef, Cooky (Dennis Hopper) and first mate, Smokey (Cole Hauser). George Leach, on the other hand, noticing a battered and bitter crew, is putting thoughts of mutiny in the first mate's head.

As the abuse takes it's very last breathe upon the crew and castaways, a storm brushes the "Spiritus" off course and into the feared Bermuda Triangle. The stubborn captain demands to sail on, while the crew grows increasingly irrate and frightened. Van Weyden, now taken under the good graces of the captain, through many deep conversations and debates on the meaning of life, finds himself in a position of jealousy amongst the crew, who are on the verge of taking the ship. Mysterious noises, shots of lightening in a clear dark sky, and compasses gone awry, the crew is finally pushed over the edge, brutally beating the uncompromising captain to a bloody pulp, leaving him blind. Van Weyden, now a hardened man, seeing a way off the ship, and looking to use his newfound strength to save the damsel, Miss Brewster, and escape the doomed "Spiritus", he finds himself not fighting the crew, but that of his mentor, Capt. Larsen, who has other plans for revenge, a mutiny of his own...a suicidal blow to his ill-fated, "Spiritus" and it's wayward crew.

What the Press would say:

A timeless look at a timeless story. A truly character driven struggle for survival, Christopher Nolan sets sail with "Shipwreck'd". He searches the depths of the abyss to find the heart of man in this adaptation of Jack London's classic best-selling novel, "The Sea Wolf".

Bo Goldman's gritty adaptation gives justice to the novel and adds an even greater sense of thought in an uncompromising world. Combining the many different sides of an intellectual. We see three of the most intelligent minds, brought up in different environments, only to lead a life of either crime, leadership, and nobility. Clive Owen's con man uses his brilliance to take over the ship through his charming and convincing manner. Al Pacino's headstrong captain uses his brainwashing brute force to weaken his crew and any possible enemy that may arise. Heath Ledger's portrayal of the timid teacher, Humphrey Van Weyden and Winona Ryder's sophisticated Maude Brewster is shown fearful and timid, but their genius lies in their ability to use that fear to overcome the harshest enviornment.

Al Pacino as Captain Wolf Larsen is a performance for the ages, outdoing his predecessor to a role made famous by Edwin G. Robinson. Mixing the fierce and confident emotions of a Captain Bligh, with a touch of the cold and calculated demeanor of a Michael Corleone, Pacino redefines the villian role with such prestige and admiration. With a supporting cast that tests his strengths, the chemistry is remarkable and performances, stellar. Ledger puts his character to the test, taking on the many different minds of a dangerous crew and holds his own, showcasing one of the most memorable supporting roles in recent history. Scenes so enticing that makes your heart pound with fear of what could happen next, as Pacino's unpredictable Wolf Larsen could save your life one minute, just to kill you the next.

"Shipwreck'd" is a film with a story that could go anywhere, promising to leave you satisfied as each character's sensibilities plays out to the bitter end. Nolan's pitch-perfect pacing, using the ship as more of an island than a boat, keeps the audience glued to their seats with every storm that may come its way. The sun has gone, but let the rum flow on as a compass guides "Shipwreck'd" to a treasure that would satisfy the greediest, conniving, and most deserving of men.

Best Picture
Best Director - Christopher Nolan
Best Actor - Al Pacino
Best Supporting Actor - Heath Ledger
Best Supporting Actress - Winona Ryder
Best Adapted Screenplay - Bo Goldman
Best Score - James Newton Howard
Best Cinematography - Wally Pfister
Best Art Direction - Bruce Crone
Best Editing - Dody Dorn
Best Costume Design - Penny Rose