Tom Hanks has penchant for playing military or quasi-military authority figures and there is little doubt that they suit him. His acting style, look and overall demeanour give him a sense of authority with just the right touch of humanity and vulnerability. This can clearly be seen in any of his past roles such as the container-ship captain in Captain Phillips, the heroic pilot Sully, and the US Army Rangers Captain John H. Miller in Spielberg’s Saving Private Ryan. Tom Hanks is also a self-confessed World War II junkie and has even directed the much-acclaimed Band of Brothers. However, it is here, with the movie titled Greyhound, that Hanks makes his screenwriting debut, adapting the 1955 novel, The Good Shepherd by CS Forester.
When the US entered World War II, one of the greatest difficulties they faced was the transportation of troops and supplies across the Atlantic Ocean to Europe. The sheer distance meant that protection from the air was sporadic at best and the fleets were left to the mercy of the water and the advanced German submarines known as U-boats that used to lurk beneath the surface.
Our story sees Commander Ernest Krause (Tom Hanks) captain a Fletcher-class destroyer USS Keeling, radio call sign Greyhound, as they escort convoy HX-25, consisting of 37 Allied ships, on one of these crossings. Shortly after going beyond the range of their initial air cover, they begin to get hunted down, one ship at a time, by a fleet of U-boats known as the Wolf Pack.
Unlike most others of its type, Greyhound takes a no-nonsense approach towards war movies. It’s a slow methodical movie that focus more on the tactics and hard-judged decisions made by the captain and the tremendous pressures that he is under as opposed to drama, character detail, and spectacle. It showcases every command as it flows through the chain of command complete with authentic nautical terminology.
Such a direct approach, while admirable in our current era of big budget blockbusters, will appeal more to a historical naval war aficionado as opposed to your typical everyday moviegoer. It is however, a refreshing take on a genre and tom hanks puts on a good show. The other performances are also very well done and feel authentic, and the tense atmosphere of a group of people being hunted by an unseen enemy is very well portrayed. The movie is also quite well paced, if lacking a climactic conclusion. As a result, the movie is well worth a watch, so long as you keep your expectations in check.
Director – Aaron Schneider
Cast – Tom Hanks, Elisabeth Shue, Stephen Graham, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Karl Glusman, Lee Norris
Greyhound is available to watch on Apple TV