Customer Reviews

In Enemy Hands

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

'In Enemy Hands' stars the solid cast, including William H Macy ('Fargo'), Scott Caan ('Ocean's 11'), Lauren Holly ('Turbulance'), Till Schweiger ('Driven') and Thomas Kretschmann ('The Pianist').

This low-budget film (by Artisan and others) about the two WW2 submalines and their crew has one interesting idea at its core, but fails to make good use of it. In 1943, USS Swordfish Lt. led by Cmdr Randall Sullivan (Caan) encounters its enemy ship, German U-Boat U-429 led by Kaptain Jonas Herdt (Schweiger).

The film then shows one intriguing premise -- What if the crew of the boats share the same submarine; what if they must join force to survive the situations that get more and more deadly to them?

Sadly writer/director Tony Giglio fails to find the best method to develop this idea. You know, in this case, you need lively, interesting characters to engage our attention. Instead, Giglio assembled the used materials from other submarine films, and patched them up to cover the whole 98 minutes. You can hear the echoes of other better films -- I don't name names -- when you see the mutiny/hostage situation, and occasional torpedo attacks. And you also get one epidemic, too, which is too conviniently introduced.

William H Macy and Thomas Kretschmann, both playing the officers under command of Caan and Schweiger respectively, are doing their best, but it is obvious that the acting is nowhere near their best. And as to ill-used Lauren Holly (who was also ill-used in 'Down Periscope'), and Jeremy Sisto whose character is reduced to a pixel, I have nothing to say except that they deserve much better roles than these.

I don't say 'In Enemy Hands' is badly done. It just lacks originality. The CGIs are decent, and the submarine designs are reasonable, but still it needs momentum 'Das Boot' and 'U-571' are endowed with.

Though it seems that 'In Enemy Hands' went straght to video in USA, it showed up in theaters in Japan, and the Japanese version I saw was doing an admirable thing, letting Germans speak German through the film. I like it, but that does not bring the cardboard characters to life.

The other reviewers that is.
This is a fabulous film that superficially is about WW2 submarine warfare (and yes you can see there's a lot of low-rent sets...especially the interior shots of the American submarine). In Enemy Hands is the best male-ensemble war film since Platoon...& maybe better. It isn't William Gacy's best effort(he seems to throw off his lines like an aging hipster)
& perhaps it's because Til Schweiger absolutely steals the film with his nuanced deeply effective performance of the U-boat Captain.
What I think is truly subversive is the metaphor- in this case meningitis that affects the American crew and later contaminates the German crew which has rescued the them. You don't have to dig deep (or think too hard) to find that this is an anti-war film on the surface and a clever way of critiquing America's influence
and culture throughout the world. The film id's it as a disease- a fatal disease that infects all.
And it's somewhat of a trojan horse in that it masquerades as the familiar genre of naval warfare films.
Look closely- the German actors are wonderful to look at...they look healthy...the Americans? Wimpy, non-descript, outside of the head bangin'banty-rooster American sub commander.
This is a hidden gem of a film- perhaps too subtle for a mass-audience of film goers. If you've taken a good film history class or studied acting- I think you'll be blown away.

Having NOT seen this in a theater, as it was only released on DVD in the U.S., I can only comment on the DVD version. I have seen half of it in English (in which Germans are speaking excellent English), and all of it dubbed in German (released in Germany, with no subtitles). There, of course, the Americans are speaking German all too well.

This film must be taken for what it is, I think. A showcase for W.H. Macy (his acting is not superficial, nor are his interactions with his wife, whom he had to leave as Chief on the U.S.S. Swordfish). Sure, the numbers and names of ships are all wrong. Did NO Kapitän-Leutnant serve underwater with his blue tunic on, as suggested by one reviewer? This is a good introduction to Til Schweiger, who really is of matinee-idol stature and appearance, as Captain of one U-Boat, and the first watch officer (Thomas Kretschmann) really shows his acting talents....compeletely different in Stalingrad, The Pianist, U-571. Perhaps Mr. Macy was not challenged by the role, and the meningitis outbreak is unbelieveable....but aren't movies unbelieveable. Do they not require suspension of disbelief, even the best?

I did not expect the Barry Lyndon of U-Boat movies. The sets are too wide, the U.S. sub is too brightly lit...but the "best set" film has been done (Das Boot) and took a year to film (see the Director's Cut DVD). Other criticisms are hollow...the flag, the seaman appearing to wear a modern German Navy tunic (I have seen them, I do not think so, but it is a brief shot. At least no one is wearing Chuck Taylor sneakers! And the back and forth between Macy and Kretschmann (Captaincy shifting back and forth depending on the conditions and likelihood of being captured by Americans or Germans--all within a few hundrend miles of the U.S. coast (which is realistic)...ending with Kretschmann ending up as a P.O.W. with the guarantee of living past the war, which was the intention of the Captain played by Til Schweiger.

All in all, it may not be historically accurate, but is a drama set in wartime, with some atypical themes (German taking prisoners against orders), some suspense...you want more from a film that did not get theatre release? I recommend it, but of course it is not a chick flick (probably an un-PC statement although commonly used), but it might become one because of Til Schweiger! So see it!

In 2000's U571, the Americans attacked a German UBoat and eventually their boat got destroyed and so they had to us the German boat. In this one, the German's attack the American sub when it was doing pratice dives and eventually the German's take the remaining American survives aboard and hold them hostage. Things happen when some German soldiers get out of hand attacking the Americans and some of the German's actually try to blow up the ship after the German captain has the American's help them get back home. Not bad submarine movie has its moments and the cast has some excellent stars and young stars which gives this movie the power it needs. There are some cheesy moments (actress Lauren Holly (Dumb & Dumber, Down Periscope) for one thing) but it was a decent enough ride. I would say in a different style then U571, not like it (but it did feel like it sorta). The excellent cast includes the superb William H. Macy (The Cooler, Stealing Sinatra), Scott Caan (A Boy Named Hate, Into The Blue), Til Schweiger (Driven, Barefoot), a solid Thomas Kretschmann (Immortal, King Kong), Clark Gregg (We Were Soldiers), Ian Somerhalder (Tv's LOST, upcoming Pulse), Jeremy Sisto (Wrong Turn, Suicide Kings), AJ Buckley (Wishcraft, The Forsaken), Chris Ellis (Con Air, Crimson Tide), Sam Huntington (Rolling Kansas, Detroit Rock City) and Xander Berkeley (North Country, Fox's 24).

Wow. This movie was a big disappointment. Acting was shallow and overall very poor, even with otherwise fine actors such as William Macy and Thomas Kretschmann (starred as German officer in "The Pianist"). One does not gain any insight into the German or American crewmembers lives or personalities, despite a few very brief segways into the backgrounds & mindset of the German captain and U.S. crew chief, acting was stiff and superficial. Special effects were poorly done, mostly computer generated sequences that gave the movie's combat scenes a kind of video-game quality. Moreover, several ridiculous historical inaccuracies served to spoil the movie even more: crewman smoking on the submerged subs, German U-Boot officers serving in full dress uniform on sub duty w/swastika flags flying in the background, devious Nazi crewmen vs. heroic Americans, etc. At one point it even appears that one of the U-Boat crewman was wearing a uniform/tunic of the modern German army.

If one enjoyed movies such as "U571" or "Pearl Harbor," this might be fun to watch - but if you're looking for a serious war movie and gain a new perspective on the war in the Atlantic or sunmarine warfare in general, this isn't it.

Synopsis: Starring William H. Macy, Til Schweiger, Scott Caan and Lauren Holly, among other notable actors, this movie is set during World War II when Hitler's Germany was turning out U-boats by the tens of thousands. The Americans and the British had one goal: to put the innumerable U-boats out of commission. Aboard an American submarine, disease breaks out and then the boat is destroyed by a German sub. Going against protocol, the German captain takes the surviving Americans on board. Disease and sub damage force the Americans and the Germans into an unlikely alliance, and no one knows whether they'll make it out alive - or whose side will kill them all first.

This was a very different role than I'd seen Scott Caan in to date. For one, this wasn't an indie film, and after watching so many of those (mostly his) as well as a lifetime of watching studio pictures, I've gotten so I can tell the difference now just by sitting through a minute or two.

This was a kick-ass movie.

Mr. Caan plays a Naval officer commanding a U.S. sub during World War II. It turns out one of his men has meningitis, and he contracts it. Then his sub, the Swordfish, comes under enemy attack and is destroyed. Only a handful of his men survive, but the captain's fading fast, dying from the disease.

I have to admit, I had a tough time believing someone so young would be in command of a sub during wartime with the first scene where Mr. C.'s wearing the dress whites. However, once we were on-board the sub with him, it really worked. It was like he came alive on that set, and between his and William H. Macy's performance as the Chief of Boat...along with the rest of the cast...I was hooked.

Full of action, full of the critical human elements that make you care about both sides no matter which side you might have supported had you been alive back then, the movie delivers in a serious way.

**SPOILER ALERT**
I have to admit that I heaved a long-suffering sigh when I realized Mr. Caan's character was going to die. I thought, Does he die in, like, every movie he's in? Well, no, he doesn't. But someone significant always seems to in the ones I've seen! However, I was pleasantly surprised by the manner in which he did eventually go, because at least it was a heroic death!

There was a great line delivered by the captain of the German U429: "To save a life instead of taking it away, that's power." I liked that.

Because my focus is to talk about how the movies made me feel...what my gut-reaction to them is rather than sounding like a professional movie critic (which I will never be), I have to say the movie at times made me teary, at times got my adrenaline going and at times left me breathless.

It was quite refreshing to see Mr. Caan in a role like this, and amused me a little to think that here, years later (this movie came out in '04), he's now on a show where it's the other guy who dons the dress whites and is in the Navy.

Some other points of interest for me were other members of the cast whom I recognized from other TV shows such as Lauren Holly from NCIS, A.J. Buckley and Carmine Giovinazzo from "CSI: NY" and Jeremy Sisto from "Law & Order." This film was filled with a who's who of television actors.

I highly recommend this if you like action, war movies, subs or just the actors involved. It is a damn fine movie.

Oh, and guess what? An actor by the name of Ian Somerhalder is in this movie, too, for you fans of "The Vampire Diaries."

Warning: plot spoilers. William Macy gives us a credible role as the COB (Chief of the Boat) on an American submarine during WWII. The COB is the highest ranking enlisted man and is typically the voice of reason, controlling young brash officers, such as the captain of this boat. We contrast his "driver: style to that of the likable easy going U-Boat captain. The action takes place off the coast of the US in 1943 as U-Boats are sinking US ships. In this case, the American and German sub meet, and exchange torpedoes. The German sub is destroyed and American is damaged and sinking. During the attack the XO dies from meningitis, which he was nice enough to have shared with the captain. As fate would have it, there was a second U-boat in the area and the remaining American crew are picked up and held prisoner. The meningitis spreads and 2/3's of the German crew die. The German supply boat never shows up.

The captain of the U-Boat decides he needs to use the Americans to survive. His plan is to work together and head for the US shore and surrender as their only hope to survive. Macy, who by now is the American leader, and really wants to see his wife again, agrees to the Germans and Americans working together. The crew develops respect for each other, except for a hand full of Tea Party followers, filled with hate from listening to Hitler and Glenn Beck decide otherwise. (Okay, I am just kidding about Hitler.)

Predictable-yes. What I liked about the movie is that in spite of the cheap scenes, they stayed fairly accurate to sub life in general. Diesel boats would surface at night to recharge the battery running the diesel and then during the day run submerged on the battery.

The movie is fine for people who have been on subs such as myself, although I would knock off a star for most of you who haven't.

In Enemy Hands is a strange movie. It's a film about an outbreak of Meningitis on an American sub in WW2, followed by a battle with a German sub in which infected US survivors are taken on board as prisoners, and the infection spreads to the German crew members. As more and more people drop, the remaining Germans and Americans must try to work together as they find themselves caught between a U.S. destroyer and another German sub.

The film stars William Macy and Scott Caan with Til Schweiger, Clark Gregg, Jeremy Sisto, Lauren Holly, Xander Berkeley, and Carmine Giovinazzo.

William Macy made a career out of small character roles from 1978 to 1996 when his appearance in "Fargo" earned him nominations for virtually every award out there. Subsequently he earned a fist full of Emmy and Screen Actor Guild nominations and wins. Personally I liked him best in "The Cooler" (2003).

Scott Caan (1976) is best known for his recurring roles as Dano in "Hawaii Five-O" (2010) and Scott Lavin in "Entourage" (2009-10). He's the son of James Caan

Til Schweiger (1963) has been in more than 50 films, mostly foreign language. He played Sgt. Stiglitz in "Inglorious Basterds" (2009) and Cynric in "King Arthur" (2004).

Clark Gregg (1962) is best known for his recurring roles as the ex-husband in "The New Adventures of Old Christine" (2006-10) and Agent Michael Casper in "The West Wing" (2001-4). He's married to Jennifer Grey.

Jeremy Sisto (1974) is best known for his recurring roles as Detective Lupo in "Law and Order" (2007-10) and Billy Chenowith in "Six Feet Under" (2001-5).

Xander Berkeley (1955) has been in nearly 200 films and TV programs. He's best known for his continuing roles as the evil Percy in "Nikita" (2010), Sheriff Atwater in "CSI" (2003-4), and George Mason in "24" (2001-3).

Carmine Giovinazzo (1973) is best known for his continuing role as Danny Messer on "CSI:NY" (2004-10) and is the only actor to have been in all three CSI series.

Lauren Holly (1963) is best known for her recurring roles as NCIS Director Jenny Shepherd from "NCIS" (2005-8) and as Maxine Stewart in "Picket Fences" (1992-6). She appeared in "Dumb and Dumber" (1994) with Jim Carrey and they were married from 1996-7.

Writer-Director Tony Giglio has made 5 films, none of them particularly memorable.

As far as submarine movies go, nothing can beat Robert Mitchum and Curt Jergens in "The Enemy Below" (1957). Other notable contributions to this genre include "U-571" (2000), "Das Boot" (1981), "The Hunt for Red October" (1990), "Crimson Tide" (1995) and "Run Silent, Run Deep" (1958). This film doesn't challenge any of them.

This story is well overdone, a story of enemies having to work together to survive?

Having said that there was not even a pretence of trying to make the story realistic. A ww2 German u-boat was an incredible dirty place. Sailors had beards, the director could have made an effort to make the setting more realistic. Furthermore, I doubt very much that a US crew could work without considerable training a German U-boat.

Finally, the ending of the American crew betraying their country because their officer made a promise, I found extremely unrealistic.

This movie moved me to the point of tears. It is an absolute gem. You will not be disappointed.